Clean, swimmable beaches are one of the hallmarks of a healthy waterfront. Beaches are typically posted as unsafe when bacteria from sewage and stormwater pollutes the lake.

Every day, Waterkeeper checks municipal and provincial beach hotlines and websites to see which beaches are open. We compile the information in monthly reports and publish one comprehensive annual report each year.

This information helps Waterkeeper and local governments identify sources of pollution at our beaches and restore water quality.

In Ontario, beaches are supposed to be open at least 95% of the summer. This benchmark ensures that the lake is safe for human recreation and for aquatic life.

Waterkeeper’s Beach Publications

2009

Worst beaches for August (percent of time beach was posted/closed)

1. Bowmanville East Beach, Newcastle Beach, Lakeview East Beach – Durham, Lake Ontario Park – Kingston (97%)
2. Bayfront Beach – Hamilton, Marie-Curtis Beach  - Toronto (87%)
3. Pickering Beach, Lakeview Beach West, Frenchman’s Bay West – Durham (84%)
4. Jones Beach – Niagara (81%)

*Please note that due to the GTA CUPE strike, daily GTA beach monitoring has been interrupted.

Worst beaches for July* (percent of time the beach was posted/closed)

1. Bayfront Beach – Hamilton (90%)
2. Lakeview Beach East – Durham Region (72%)
3. Jones Beach – St. Catharine’s (62%)
4. Queen’s Royal – Niagara-on-the-Lake (59%)

Worst beaches for June* (percent of time the beach was posted/closed)

1. Lion’s Park – Campbellford (100%)
2. Jones Beach – St. Catharine’s (72%)
3. Victoria Beach – Cobourg (58%)
4. Bayfront Beach – Hamilton (57%)

For more details, see our June 2009 Beach report (pdf)

• 2008 Midterm Beach Report: Summer, 2008
• 2007 Beach Report: December, 2007
• June 2007 Beach Postings Results: July 2007
• 2006 Beach Report: December, 2006
• Investigating Municipal Beaches: Lessons from Bluffer’s Park: June 2006
• 2005 Beach Report: Fall, 2005
• 2004 Beach Report: Fall 2004
• A report on Procedure F-5-5 and sewage pollution in Ontario’s waterways: January, 2004

Check your local beach

Safe beaches are especially important for urban areas in Southern Ontario, where they are our cities’ most accessible wilderness areas.

Thinking about going swimming? The numbers and links below will lead you to the most up-to-date status of the beaches in your area. Can’t find your local beach? Please let us know so we can update our site.

View Lake Ontario Watershed Beaches in a larger map

View Lake Ontario Watershed Beaches in a larger map