Through Swim Watch, MREAC monitors water quality at 28 sites throughout the Miramichi River watershed. Beginning in 1993, water samples have been collected during June, July and August at 6 sites weekly and all 28 twice during the summer season. The samples are sent to the NB Department of Environment laboratory in Fredericton for fecal coliform testing. The results are returned to MREAC's office where the data is collected, tabulated and made available to interested stakeholders upon request. The results are also summarized in MREAC's bi-annual newsletter.

According to the Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality, the allowed limit of Escherichia coli in recreational water samples is 200 CFU/100 ml. If any samples exceed this limit, MREAC staff resamples the site, and any site exceeding the limit for three consecutive samples is considered unsafe for recreational purposes and is closed by the NB Department of Health and Wellness. The purpose of this project is to monitor the fecal coliform levels at public beaches and common swimming holes throughout the watershed in order to protect the health of recreational users.

To review the results of the program to date, check out the Swim Watch Report 1993-2010.

Sampling Site Locations

Results for 2010

All results were within the acceptable limit for recreational use except for one sample at Familyland on August 11th, 2011. When resampled, this site returned to acceptable limits.