Diving Dock

Water Quality of Dow’s Lake – Ottawa International Triathlon

Water Quality

Summary of Latest 2017 Test Results

Water quality was measured in 2 different spots in Dows Lake on June 9th 2017

Test Units Sample 1 Sample 2
E Coli Test CFU/100ml E10 E14
pH Test pH units 8.75 8.75

Full results here

The water in Dows Lake is tested regularly by the City of Ottawa Baseline Surface Water Monitoring Program and is classed as ‘Good to Excellent’. The program provides historical data each month for Dows Lake from 2010 to 2015.

The Water Quality Baseline Surface Water Monitoring Program Baseline List can be found here:

http://data.ottawa.ca/en/dataset/water-quality

The water quality requirements set by the International Triathlon Union (ITU) for competition are as follows:

  • PH between 6 and 9;
  • Escherichiacoli E. Coli not more than 500 per 100 ml (CFU/100ml);
  • Entero-cocci not more than 200 per 100 ml (CFU/100ml);

All historical data in the Baseline List meets the first two key requirements for competition. The third test is not undertaken by the monitoring program, and will be part of our own tests undertaken in the lead up to the competition. The results of these tests can be found here:

Ottawa International Triathlon – Water Quality Results (June 9 2017)

Ottawa International Triathlon – Water Quality Results (June 2 2017)

Water quality does fluctuate based on the weather, temperature and the length of time the canal is frozen over the winter. While unlikely, should water quality not be suitable at the time of the event then pre-approved alternative plans will be implemented.All the pH and E Coli test data for the past 6 years can be found below. pH is measured in pH units and E Coli in CFU/100ml.

Depth Date Test Result
0.5 2010-05-21 E Coli – Total <10
2010-05-21 E Coli – Total <10
0.5 2010-05-21 pH 8.67
2010-05-21 pH 8.66
0.5 2010-06-23 E Coli – Total <2
2010-06-23 E Coli – Total <2
0.5 2010-06-23 pH 8.52
2010-06-23 pH 8.32
2010-07-28 E Coli – Total E3
0.5 2010-07-28 E Coli – Total E2
0.5 2010-07-28 pH 8.54
2010-07-28 pH 8.54
2010-08-24 E Coli – Total E33
0.5 2010-08-24 E Coli – Total 102
0.5 2010-08-24 pH 8.38
2010-08-24 pH 8.25
2010-09-15 E Coli – Total E25
0.5 2010-09-15 E Coli – Total 40
0.5 2010-09-15 pH 8.56
2010-09-15 pH 8.54
2010-10-05 E Coli – Total 96
0.5 2010-10-05 E Coli – Total 56
0.5 2010-10-05 pH 8.44
2010-10-05 pH 8.34
0.5 2011-05-26 E Coli – Total E18
2011-05-26 E Coli – Total <10
0.5 2011-05-26 pH 8.6
2011-05-26 pH 8.26
2011-06-22 E Coli – Total E9
0.5 2011-06-22 E Coli – Total <10
0.5 2011-06-22 pH 8.76
2011-06-22 pH 8.17
2011-07-22 E Coli – Total <10
0.5 2011-07-22 E Coli – Total <10
0.5 2011-07-22 pH 8.78
2011-07-22 pH 8.22
2011-08-09 E Coli – Total E45
0.5 2011-08-09 E Coli – Total <10
0.5 2011-08-09 pH
2011-08-09 pH 8.3
0.5 2011-09-12 E Coli – Total E10
2011-09-12 E Coli – Total E10
0.5 2011-09-12 pH 8.88
2011-09-12 pH 8.81
0.5 2011-10-12 E Coli – Total E173
2011-10-12 E Coli – Total E118
0.5 2011-10-12 pH 8.77
2011-10-12 pH 8.76
0.5 2012-05-25 E Coli – Total E30
2012-05-25 E Coli – Total E10
0.5 2012-05-25 pH 8.67
2012-05-25 pH 8.05
0.5 2012-06-18 E Coli – Total <10
2012-06-18 E Coli – Total <10
0.5 2012-06-18 pH 8.54
2012-06-18 pH 8.13
0.5 2012-07-20 E Coli – Total <10
2012-07-20 E Coli – Total <10
0.5 2012-07-20 pH 8.58
2012-07-20 pH 8.53
2012-08-17 E Coli – Total E50
0.5 2012-08-17 E Coli – Total E10
0.5 2012-08-17 pH 8.75
2012-08-17 pH 8.64
0.5 2012-09-19 E Coli – Total E10
2012-09-19 E Coli – Total E10
0.5 2012-09-19 pH 8.35
2012-09-19 pH 8.32
2012-10-04 E Coli – Total E50
0.5 2012-10-04 E Coli – Total E100
0.5 2012-10-04 pH 8.55
2012-10-04 pH 8.45
0.5 2013-05-22 E Coli – Total <10
2013-05-22 E Coli – Total <10
0.5 2013-05-22 pH 8.67
2013-05-22 pH 8.13
2013-06-13 E Coli – Total E20
0.5 2013-06-13 E Coli – Total <10
0.5 2013-06-13 pH 8.61
2013-06-13 pH 8.35
0.5 2013-07-11 E Coli – Total E2
2013-07-11 E Coli – Total E2
0.5 2013-07-11 pH 8.75
2013-07-11 pH 8.05
0.5 2013-08-27 E Coli – Total E8
2013-08-27 E Coli – Total E24
0.5 2013-08-27 pH 8.47
2013-08-27 pH 8.38
2013-09-18 E Coli – Total E12
0.5 2013-09-18 E Coli – Total E10
0.5 2013-09-18 pH 8.57
2013-09-18 pH 8.41
0.5 2014-05-30 E Coli – Total E2
2014-05-30 E Coli – Total E2
0.5 2014-05-30 pH 8.63
2014-05-30 pH 8.5
2014-06-18 E Coli – Total E20
0.5 2014-06-18 E Coli – Total <10
0.5 2014-06-18 pH 8.86
2014-06-18 pH 8.44
0.5 2014-07-17 E Coli – Total E2
2014-07-17 E Coli – Total E2
0.5 2014-07-17 pH 8.72
2014-07-17 pH 8.68
0.5 2014-08-26 E Coli – Total E10
2014-08-26 E Coli – Total E10
0.5 2014-08-26 pH 8.93
2014-08-26 pH 8.82
0.5 2014-09-15 E Coli – Total E14
2014-09-15 E Coli – Total 46
0.5 2014-09-15 pH 8.26
2014-09-15 pH 8.22
2014-10-06 E Coli – Total 176
0.5 2014-10-06 E Coli – Total 158
0.5 2014-10-06 pH 8.35
2014-10-06 pH 8.35
0.5 2015-06-10 E Coli – Total <10
0.5 2015-06-10 pH 8.57
2015-06-10 E Coli – Total <10
2015-06-10 pH 8.41
0.5 2015-07-14 E Coli – Total E2
0.5 2015-07-14 pH 8.77
2015-07-14 E Coli – Total <2
2015-07-14 pH 8.56
0.5 2015-08-13 E Coli – Total <10
0.5 2015-08-13 pH 8.61
2015-08-13 E Coli – Total <10
2015-08-13 pH 8.58
0.5 2015-09-15 E Coli – Total E10
0.5 2015-09-15 pH 8.16
2015-09-15 E Coli – Total E20
2015-09-15 pH 8.15
0.5 2015-10-06 E Coli – Total E18
0.5 2015-10-06 pH 8.28
2015-10-06 E Coli – Total E50
2015-10-06 pH 8.21