Three Niagara-area beaches unsafe for swimming

If you plan on cooling off at one of the Niagara Region’s 19 beaches today, you might be relieved to hear that only three are considered unsafe for a dip. 

According to the region’s website, Waverly Beach in Fort Erie, Nickel Beach in Port Colborne and Long Beach in Wainfleet are considered unsafe for swimming following water testing. 

Waverly Beach and Nickel Beach are considered unsafe due to algae levels, while Long Beach has been deemed unsuitable for swimming due to the presence of e.coli. 

At its peak this summer, seven beaches were unsafe for swimming a few weekends back.

The beaches considered safe can be found here.

The beaches were all tested between July 19 and 25. 

Port Colborne’s popular Sherkston Shores beaches–Sherkston Elco Beach, Sherkston Quarry Beach, and Sherkston Wyldewood Beach–were all tested today (July 25). 

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.