Water Quality

On June 22, 2025, Ottawa Riverkeeper proudly became a signatory to the Swimmable Cities Charter, joining a global movement that champions the right to swim and celebrates urban swimming culture.

We are frustrated and disappointed by Ottawa Public Health’s decision to stick with weekly testing at City-run beaches into the 2026 swim season, and by the Board of Health’s refusal to intervene. This is bad news for public health and the long-term understanding of water quality trends.

Ottawa Riverkeeper’s Water Quality Assistant for the summer of 2025, Maya Lawson, shares some of her experiences going to beaches to test water quality this summer, and the connections she made with people and the river!

Ottawa has long been a leader in taking water quality seriously. However, recent reductions in testing, as announced by the City of Ottawa, are a massive step backward. Urge the City to return to daily testing in 2025 so swimmers have the information they need!

Gabby, Ottawa Riverkeeper’s Water Quality Assistant for 2024, reflects on her time testing local beaches and getting to explore the watershed, as well as how important it is to have accessible data for the public to understand the conditions in their waterways.