### Should We Be Swimming in the St. Lawrence River?
**Could Montreal Follow Paris’s Lead?**
According to microbiologist Marc Hamilton, there is no doubt: in several places, the water of the St. Lawrence River is clean enough for swimming. To be safe for swimming, a body of water must contain less than 200 fecal coliforms per 100 ml of water, explains Hamilton, who is also the president of the Association des microbiologistes du Québec.
The Fondation Rivières, which advocates for better water access for Quebecers in urban and semi-urban areas, has identified 57 potential swimming spots around the island of Montreal. According to samples collected during the week of July 10 by the Réseau de suivi du milieu aquatique (RSMA) of the City of Montreal, at least half of these spots have acceptable levels for swimming.
Currently, however, Montreal only has two designated swimming areas in the river: Verdun Beach and Jean-Doré Beach at Parc Jean-Drapeau.
**Increasingly Clean Water**
In the 1970s, the water of the St. Lawrence was unsuitable for swimming. But in recent years, significant investments have been made to reduce organic matter in the water, resulting in improved river quality, assures Marc Hamilton.
“The wastewater treatment systems were inefficient. Solids in the water ended up directly in the river, leading to high organic loads that favored bacterial proliferation,” he explains.
Thus, even though some municipalities still discharge their wastewater into the St. Lawrence, the treatment of this wastewater, combined with the dilution phenomenon in the river, ensures that the water quality is sufficient in many areas.
**A Climate Justice Issue**
With heatwaves expected to multiply and worsen due to climate change, access to water in urban and semi-urban areas becomes a matter of climate justice, argues André Bélanger, executive director of the Fondation Rivières.
“Waterways running through cities are often in central neighborhoods, home to many underprivileged people. Opening access points in downtown areas like Saint-Jérôme serves a population that is always overlooked and will never afford a private lake cottage,” he illustrates.
**Tips for Swimming in Natural Waters**
1. **Don’t swallow the water.**
Even if it is clear and odorless, warns Marc Hamilton. “It can cause infections, bacterial gastroenteritis, and skin irritation,” he notes. Also, make sure to supervise children, who tend to swallow more water.
2. **Avoid swimming 24 to 48 hours after rain.**
Rain increases water flow and can cause sewage overflows into waterways.
3. **Don’t swim with an open wound.**
This can also lead to infections when an unhealed cut comes into contact with fecal bacteria.
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