Three out of 19 Niagara beaches unsafe to swim this weekend

With summer winding down, Niagara posted its weekend tests on water quality at the region’s 19 beaches and for a welcome change, just three are unsafe for swimming.

While the region checks its beaches between one and six times a week, it’s the Friday results that catch the most attention as residents are making their weekend plans.

Waverly Beach in Fort Erie is unsafe due to algae issues while Sherkston Elco Beach in Port Colborne and Long Beach in Wainfleet has swimming shut down due to ecoli levels.

Meanwhile, Bay Beach, Bernard Avenue Beach and Crescent Beach, all in Fort Erie, are safe to swim in this weekend. The same goes for Casablanca Beach, Fifty Point Conservation Beach and Nelles Beach, all in Grimsby.

Four of five Port Colborne beaches – Centennial Cedar Bay, Nickel Beach, Sherkston Quarry and Sherkston Wyldewood – are cleared for safe swimming.

Lakeside Beach and Sunset Beach in St. Catharines and the two of the three beaches in Wainfleet – Reebs Bay and Wainfleet Lake Erie Public Access Beach – have all be deemed safe to swim.

Niagara Region Public Health’s beach monitoring program operates annually from Victoria Day to Labour Day. The goal of is to reduce the risk of illness and injury associated with attending the beach.