Six of Niagara’s 19 beaches unsafe for swimming on long weekend

Just as the Labour Day long weekend approached, Niagara posted its weekend tests on water quality at the region’s 19 beaches and unfortunately, six were declared 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.

Crescent Beach and Waverly Beach, both in Fort Erie, are unsafe due to ecoli issues. Also shut down due to high ecoli levels are Queen’s Royal Beach in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Centennial Cedar Bay and Sherkston Quarry Beach, both in Port Colborne and Sunset Beach in St. Catharines.

Meanwhile, Bay Beach and Bernard Avenue Beach and Crescent Beach, both 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.

Lakeside Beach in St. Catharines  and all three beaches in Wainfleet – Long Beach, 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.