Eight Niagara-area beaches deemed unsafe for swimming this long weekend

If you plan on cooling off at one of the Niagara Region’s 19 beaches today, you might be disappointed to hear that eight are considered unsafe for a dip–including all three Sherkston Shores beaches in Port Colborne. 

According to the region’s website, Waverly Beach in Fort Erie, Nelles Beach in Grimsby, Centennial Cedar Bay Beach in Port Colborne, Sherkston Elco in Port Colborne, Sherkston Quarry Beach in Port Colborne, Sherkston Wyldwood Beach in Port Colborne, Reebs Bay in Wainfleet and Wainfleet Lake Erie Public Access Beach in Wainfleet are considered unsafe for swimming following water testing. 

The beaches are considered unsafe due to the presence of either algae or e.coli. 

The beaches considered safe can be found here.

The beaches were all tested between Aug. 2 and 4. 

According to the region, the public health department’s beach monitoring program operates annually from Victoria Day to Labour Day to reduce the risk of illness and injury amongst beach users. 

The region says the program consists of onsite beach assessments such as bacteriological water testing. It also monitors air temperature, water temperature, water cloudiness, wind speed and wave height.