Multiple Toronto beaches deemed unsafe for swimming

As beaches officially open for the summer, Toronto Public Health is advising people to be cautious at a few city beaches. 

Due to high levels of E. coli found by the City during its daily water quality testing, swimmers are advised to exercise caution when visiting Marie Curtis Park East Beach and Sunnyside Beach.

The warning comes on the heels of water quality notices for beaches at Centre Island, Woodbine and Kew-Balmy, which were also deemed unsafe over the weekend due to high levels of E. coli in the city's water quality testing. 

As Toronto is expecting rain on Monday, swimming should be avoided on Toronto beaches during and 48 hours after rainfall. Rainfall and resulting bacteria-laden runoff into rivers and streams feeding the lake affect the safety of swimming in Toronto's public beaches, along with other pollutants washed into the lake.

Beaches located near rivers, creeks and lakes, like the ones affected by water quality warnings on Monday, are especially prone to bacterial contamination after rain.  Other factors like wind, waterfowl, and shallow, warm water, can also contribute to poor water quality.

Additional beaches may be closed by the City in the event of rainfall, as rain can wash contaminants into the beach waters.

Toronto Public Health's SwimSafe program monitors water quality at Toronto's 11 public beaches, testing daily throughout the summer months. The program will frequently close beaches as needed when bacteria and other pollutants spike.

The City collects and tests water samples to check for E. coli bacteria, and the results are available online for the public daily. 

There are also physical indicators located on Toronto beaches, such as water quality signs and a flag system used by lifeguards, which display coloured flags to indicate the swimming conditions for the day. 

Lab results on the quality of water typically take 24 hours, so you'll always want to use common sense in addition to City warnings. The City of Toronto advises that beachgoers should not rely solely on lab results when deciding whether to swim at Toronto beaches. 

So, aside from avoiding beaches during and after rainfall and watching for red flags, what are the signs?

It's best to avoid beaches if the water is cloudy or if there are large populations of birds around the water. Always take extra precautions when near beaches at the mouths of rivers and streams, and generally trust your instincts when water smells foul.

Toronto's beaches will remain open until Labour Day.