Beaches from Oshawa to Pickering cleared for use as region begins E. coli tests

All of Durham Region’s beaches are open after regional bacterial testing marked them all as safe.

The Region began testing the beaches the week of June 5. The tests ensure E. coli levels remain below 200 E. coli per 100 ml of water.

Following the tests, all 14 beaches (listed below) were declared safe. However, the Region noted heavy rains can elevate E. coli and bacteria levels. They’ve therefore reminded beachgoers not to hop in the water less than 48 hours after rainfall.

While still safe, Scugog’s Kinsmen Beach is under a blue-green algae advisory. The  Ontario Ministry of the Environment found the algae in the waters of Lake Scugog back in April. This prompted a warning to residents to avoid any blue-green algae and the water nearby. The algae create toxins that may be harmful to swimmers and pets. Fishers are also advised not to eat the fish from Lake Scugog.

The open are as follows;

• Ajax
  • Paradise Beach (Lakeview Blvd. and Paradise Lane)
• Brock
  • Beaverton North Beach (Wellington St. and Victoria St.)
  • Beaverton South Beach (Simcoe St. & Harbour Park Cr.)
  • Thorah Centennial Park (Shoreline Rd. RR#47 and Thorah Concession Rd. 9)
• Clarington
  • Bowmanville East (Port Darlington Rd. and East Beach Rd.)
  • Bowmanville West (West Beach Rd. and Cove Rd.)
  • Newcastle Beach Central (Mill St. South and Boulton St.)
• Oshawa
  • Lakeview Beach East (Simcoe St. S. and Lakeview Park Ave.)
  • Lakeview Beach West (Kluane Ave. and Lakeview Park Ave.)
• Pickering
  • Frenchman’s Bay East (Wharf St. and Liverpool Rd.)
  • Frenchman’s Bay West (West Shore Blvd. and Beachpoint Pr.)
• Scugog
  • Kinsmen Beach (Palmer Park – Water St. and Mary St.)
• Whitby
  • Iroquois Beach (Gordon St. and Waterfront Trail)
  • Whitby Beach (Heydenshore Park – South Blair St. and Water St.)