The very popular beach of the Cap-Saint-Jacques nature park, in the west of Montreal, has just been temporarily closed due to “high bacteriological contamination” recorded during a water sample, a little more early this week.
Posted at 12:28 p.m.
In a press release released Friday, the Ministry of the Environment indicates that it has agreed with the City of Montreal to close the place. “The analysis of the samples taken on August 10 showed that the bathing waters of this beach did not comply with bacteriological quality standards”, indicate the authorities.
“Consequently, the population must refrain from frequenting it for bathing purposes until a notice to the contrary has been issued”, also specifies the ministry, recalling however that “citizens can have access to other beaches participating in the Environment-Beach program until the reopening of the beach”.
On its website, the City states that the water quality of the beach “is currently D”, and that “swimming is prohibited until further notice”. This is a significant change for the water quality in the area which, until June, had an A rating.
The exact cause surrounding this “high bacteriological contamination” is unknown at this time. Neither Quebec nor Montreal have specified for how long access to the beach could be prohibited.
Located on the shores of Lac des Deux-Montagnes, in Pierrefonds-Roxboro, the beach at the Cap-Saint-Jacques nature park is popular throughout the summer season. However, access to it remains chargeable.
It remains relatively common for the authorities to temporarily close access to a beach or shoreline, when tests reveal the presence of water quality below government standards. At the beginning of August, in Gatineau in the Hull sector, the Lac Leamy beach was also closed after samples revealed high levels of pollution.