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Green means swim, red means stop…but what does a blue flag at the beach mean?
A Blue Flag is an international symbol that signifies a beach is clean and meets 27 strict standards of water quality, environmental education, environmental management, safety and services. As early as 1985, France began rating its beaches and striving for a cleaner, healthier waterfront. Currently, over 36 countries and 2,600 beaches fly the Blue Flag.
The City of Ottawa has not yet applied for Blue Flag designation. Last summer, Environmental Defence met with the city and conducted feasibility studies for Westboro, Petrie Island, Mooney’s Bay and Britannia beaches. This year, the City will be working on some issues in preparation for its application for Blue Flag designation and has proactively begun to implement some of the recommendations made.
Once the city feels it wants to move forward, it will move into the pilot phase which is for one full summer. If the pilot phase is successful, the city will make an application for certification in the fall, which will be reviewed by two independent juries: the Great Lakes Regional Jury and the International Blue Flag jury.
Keep your eyes open for that blue flag blowing in the wind!
The Canadian Blue Flag Program