All beaches in Durham Region deemed safe for swimming

The onset of warm weather and summer being only a few weeks away has already sent a flood of locals to the region’s beaches to beat the heat, prompting Durham Region Health Department to launch their first beach report of the season.

The good news for beach-goers, all 15 public beaches in Durham passed and were declared safe for swimming.

The not-as-good news is thunderstorns are expected Saturday, though Sunday should be a better day to find some sand and surf, with temperatures of around 24C and mostly sunny skies.

Testing was done Wednesday at Paradise Beach in Ajax, Caesarea Beach (new this year) and Kinsmen Beach in Scugog; Thorah Centennial, Beaverton East and Beaverton West beaches in Brock Township; Bowmanville East, Bowmanville West and Newcastle Central beaches in Clarington; Lakeview East and Lakeview West in Oshawa; Whitby and Iroquois in Whitby; and Frenchman’s Bay East and Frenchman’s Bay West beaches in Pickering.

Throughout the summer from early June to the end of August, the region tests waters at public beaches as part of its beach monitoring program. Tests conducted at all Durham beaches include testing water samples for high levels of bacteria to let beach visitors know which beaches are safe for swimming.