Durham Region Weekly Beach Report Highlights Unsafe Beaches

The Durham Region Health Department has released its weekly beach report for the week of August 6, 2024. The report indicates that 10 public beaches in the region are currently posted as unsafe for swimming due to elevated levels of E. coli bacteria, which exceed the provincial standard of 200 E. coli per 100 ml of water. The following beaches are posted as unsafe:

• Ajax: Paradise Beach (Lakeview Blvd. and Paradise Lane)
• Brock: Beaverton North Beach (Wellington St. and Victoria St.)
• Clarington: Bowmanville East (Port Darlington Rd. and East Beach Rd.)
• Clarington: Bowmanville West (West Beach Rd. and Cove Rd.)
• Clarington: Newcastle Beach Central (Mill St. South and Boulton St.)
• Oshawa: Lakeview Beach East (Simcoe St. South and Lakeview Park Ave.)
• Oshawa: Lakeview Beach West (Kluane Ave. and Lakeview Park Ave.)
• Scugog: Kinsmen Beach (Palmer Park - Water St. and Mary St.)
• Whitby: Iroquois Beach (Gordon St. and Waterfront Trail)
• Whitby: Whitby Beach (Heydenshore Park - South Blair St. and Water St.)

Residents are advised to avoid swimming in these areas until further notice. Additionally, the Health Department reminds the public to avoid swimming in beach water for at least 48 hours after heavy rainfall, as bacteria levels can increase due to run-off.

Kinsmen Beach (Palmer Park) near Platten Island has a blue-green algae advisory.

Residents should avoid swimming or playing in areas where water is discoloured or where foam, scum, or mats of algae are present. Consuming fish from these areas is also not advised.

For real-time weekly inspection results for local beaches, residents can visit the Health Department’s online disclosure portal, Check&Go! Durham. The Health Department conducts bacteriological water tests throughout the summer, with results shared by the Friday of each week to assist with public notification of beach postings.