Heading to the beach? You’ll want to stay out of the water at Fifty Point Conservation Area, Nelles, Sunset and Waverly as of Aug. 12 at 3 p.m. Here’s the latest beach water quality report from Niagara Region Public Health:
- Bernard Avenue Beach in Fort Erie (1 Bernard Avenue) tested safe for swimming on August 11
- Casablanca Beach in Grimsby (565 North Service Road) tested safe for swimming on August 11
- Centennial Park Beach in Port Colborne (2767 Vimy Road) tested safe for swimming on August 11
- Charles Daley Park Beach in Lincoln (1969 North Service Road) tested safe for swimming on August 10
- Crescent Beach in Fort Erie (1199 Edgemere Lane) tested safe for swimming on August 10
- Crystal Beach in Ridgeway (4155 Erie Road) tested safe for swimming on August 11
- Elco Beach in Port Colborne (Shore Line Drive) tested safe for swimming on August 11
- Fifty Point Conservation Area Beach in Hamilton (1479 Baseline Road) tested unsafe for swimming on August 10
- Lake Erie Beach in Wainfleet (12463 Lakeshore Road) tested safe for swimming on August 11
- Lakeside Beach in St. Catharines (1 Lakeport Road) tested safe for swimming on August 11
- Long Beach in Wainfleet (Augustine Road) tested safe for swimming on August 11
- Nelles Beach in Grimsby (91 Lake Street) tested unsafe for swimming on August 11
- Nickel Beach in Port Colborne (69 Lake Road) tested safe for swimming on August 11
- Queen’s Royal Beach in Niagara-on-the-Lake (45 Front Street) tested safe for swimming on August 10
- Reebs Bay Beach in Wainfleet (607 Lakeshore Road #621) tested safe for swimming on August 10
- Sherkston Quarry Beach in Port Colborne (Beach View EWS) tested safe for swimming on August 11
- Sunset Beach in St. Catharines (1 Lombardy Avenue) tested unsafe for swimming on August 11
- Waverly Beach in Fort Erie (271 Helena Street) tested unsafe for swimming on August 2
- Wyldewood Beach in Port Colborne (Alfies Lane) tested safe for swimming on August 11
- Up for a day trip? Find the latest reports for beaches outside Niagara
During the summer, Niagara Region Public Health monitors E. coli levels at 19 public beaches. Water is considered unsafe for swimming when one sample contains 400 or more E. coli bacteria per 100 millilitres, or the geometric mean of five samples is 200 or more, according to public health guidelines from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
Collecting, transporting and testing beach water for E. coli can take a day or more, so the latest available data may not reflect current conditions at the beach. Swimming is not recommended when it’s raining, the water is wavy or cloudy, there are lots of birds, or for two days after a big storm.
Consuming E. coli can cause serious illness, including stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. When high levels of the bacteria are detected it’s more likely that other harmful organisms are present as well, including those that cause skin rashes and eye, ear, nose and throat infections.
A beach may also be considered unsafe for swimming due to weather conditions, runoff, pollution, spills, smells, garbage, sharp debris and dead fish. In addition, public beaches are monitored for blue-green algae, which can be highly toxic to humans, dogs and other animals.
About this story
This story is automatically generated at 7 a.m. and updated hourly until 5 p.m. as new data become available from Niagara Region Public Health.
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