Multiple Toronto beaches deemed unsafe for swimming

Despite a rainy start to the day, hopeful beachgoers may be disappointed to learn that three of Toronto's 11 beaches have been deemed not safe to swim in right now. 

From June through September, the City of Toronto conducts daily water quality inspections through its Beach Water Sampling Program. The initiative helps ensure local beaches remain safe to swim in and reduces the risk of water-borne illnesses.

The latest Beach Water Quality Inspection, based on samples collected on June 20, indicates that Marie Curtis Park East Beach, Ward's Island Beach, and Cherry Beach have been flagged as "caution advised" due to elevated E. coli levels in the water.

While ideal swimming conditions would have no E. coli present, the bacteria can occur naturally, and low levels are still considered safe for swimming in Toronto. The City advises caution when E. coli levels exceed 100 counts per 100 millilitres of sampled water.

The three beaches in question are well above that threshold, indicating a concerning amount of contamination. Elevated E. coli levels can result from sources such as feces from geese and other waterfowl, runoff after rainfall, failing septic systems, sewage contamination, and bacteria in wet sand.

The City's report recorded the following E. coli counts at the affected beaches:

• Cherry Beach: 117 per 100 mL sampled
• Marie Curtis Park East Beach: 142 per 100 mL sampled
• Ward's Island Beach: 337 per 100 mL sampled

These figures are significantly higher than those documented at Toronto's other beaches, all of which have been classified as safe for swimming, with counts coming in at the following numbers:

• Woodbine Beaches: 11 per 100 mL sampled
• Kew-Balmy Beach: 11 per 100 mL sampled
• Bluffer's Beach Park: 13 per 100 mL sampled
• Gibraltar Point Beach: 20 per 100 mL sampled
• Centre Island Beach: 21 per 100 mL sampled
• Sunnyside Beach: 24 per 100 mL sampled
• Hanlan's Point Beach: 60 per 100 mL sampled

E. coli is generally reduced naturally through exposure to sunlight and dilution in the water, according to experts.

Residents can continue to monitor beach water conditions and access daily water quality reports to confirm that it's safe to swim in Toronto beaches through the City of Toronto's official website.