Parlee Beach water quality rated as poor

Visitors to the province's most popular beach are being warned to think twice before entering the water. For the last10 days a sign has been posted atParlee Beach warningthat water quality is poor.

The manager of the provincial park beach,Pierre Niles, has refused CBC requests for an interview.

Dr.CristinMuecke,the province's actingdeputychief medical officer of health, saysthe water quality rating is based on a variety of factors, such asthe presence of bacteria in the water.

"It can also be influenced by a variety of weather factors, like rainfall, the number of bathers in the water on any given day and even things like the temperature of the water and vegetation like seaweed," she said.

Mueckesayspark staff take threedifferent samples once a week for testing and send them to an accredited lab for testing.

'Usually it takes about twoto threedays to come back and based on that, and based on some of the other factors I mentioned, they make a determination about what the rating isgoing tobe for that week."

When the water is rated poor, swimmers are discouraged from puttingtheir heads under water.It is also suggested that the elderly, the very young and those with cuts and breaks in their skin avoid going in the water.

Peak season

Thetiming couldn't beworse, with the area busy withtourists due to the Quebec construction holiday and an upcoming concert at the beach this weekend.

Still, some beachgoerswereunconcerned about the poor water qualityand chose to swim anyway.

Dianne Doucet, a visitor from Montreal, says the water qualityhasn't stopped her andher family from heading for the water.

"We rented a cottage for two weeks so, when the sun's out, we try to take part of the beach," she said.

Others decided they didn't want to risk it.

Katherine Wilsonholme of La Tuque,Quebec, said she'sdisappointed because sheand her family are only visiting New Brunswick for a few days.

"We're not swimming. We're just walking today," she said.

"A lady explained to us yesterday that the kids could get an infection,and I have a cold, and they said that was very bad for me, to get in the water over my hips."