Three beaches in the Niagara area have been reported unsafe for swimming due to E. coli, as indicated by the water test results from the Niagara Region, but they remain open to the public.
A fourth location – Grimsby’s Nelles Beach – has also been classified as unsafe for swimming and is completely closed. The Niagara Region stated it hasn’t tested that beach for E. coli “due to safety reasons.”
E. coli can cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, and it’s a type of bacteria that can lead to gastrointestinal issues, particularly in more vulnerable groups such as kids and seniors.
Niagara beaches unsafe for swimming
Lakeside Beach in St. Catharines Sunset Beach in St. Catharines Sherkston Elco in Port Colborne Nelles Beach in Grimsby (closed)
While these beaches are not safe for swimming, those at St. Catharines’ locations can still enjoy sunbathing and building sandcastles.
The Niagara Region noted that safety concerns at Grimsby’s Nelles Beach could include “floating debris, oil, excessive weed growth, bad odours” and murky water, according to their website.
The Region mentioned that E. coli test results “may not always be accurate” since they depend on factors like swimmer or bird numbers at the beach, wind and wave conditions, water clarity, and recent heavy rains.
“To help reduce the risk of illness, avoid getting beach water in your mouth or swallowing lake water, and wash or sanitize your hands before eating, especially after playing in the sand or water,” the Region said in an email to CBC.
It’s also advised that people “check current water quality results and consider surrounding conditions before entering the water. If conditions don’t look right, enjoy the beach from the shore,” it added.
Lakeside Park Beach in St. Catharines, Ont., remains open despite waters tested positive for E. coli. (Diona Macalinga/CBC)
Niagara beaches safe for swimming
Fort Erie
Bay Beach Bernard Avenue Beach Crescent Beach Waverly Beach
Grimsby
Casablanca Beach Fifty Point Conservation Beach
Lincoln
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Port Colborne
Centennial Cedar Bay Beach Nickel Beach Sherkston Quarry Beach Sherkston Wyldewood Beach
Wainfleet
Long Beach Reebs Bay Wainfleet Lake Erie Public Access Beach WATCH | E. coli testing at a London, Ont., beach:
How public health officials test for E. coli in lakes
Before you wade into the lake for a swim, is there any way to tell if there’s harmful bacteria in the water? A student public health inspector walks CBC London through how water samples are collected and tested for E. coli, and what people can do at the beach if the bacteria is detected in the water.
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