Crystal Gaudet couldn’t say she really hadn’t seen the sign.

The St. Catharines woman and several family members had their blankets and lawn chairs positioned around the bright red marker planted in the beach at Lakeside Park — the one warning swimmers to stay out of the water.

But Gaudet’s wet brown hair gave her away as a water lover, who wasn’t about to be swayed Monday by an advisory.

Gaudet, 29, said she makes her own observations about the general state of the water — judging its appearance and odour — before taking the plunge.

“The water’s pretty clear and as long as it’s clear I think it’s OK,” she said as numerous other bathers splashed and swam in the lake on a broiler of a summer afternoon.

“If the water is strong smelling, I won’t go in.”

Seven of the 25 public beaches across the peninsula that are monitored regularly by Niagara Region’s public health department were posted unsafe for swimming Monday.

The Region tests the amount of E. coli bacteria in the water at the swim sites daily in the case of popular beaches, such as Lakeside Park, and less frequently in others.

Ontario’s water-quality standard for public beaches is 100 E. coli per 100 millilitres of water.

Higher bacteria counts trigger officials to post warning signs that the swimming area is unsafe for bathers.

“There’s a whole host of factors that can impact the water quality on beaches,” said Bjorn Christensen, the Region’s director of environmental health.

“We had a lot of rain early in the spring. It’s possible that could be coming into play.”

Heavy rains tend to wash higher levels of pollution into the lakes and rivers.

This year, the Region is monitoring 11 fewer beaches, dropping some of the least-used swimming holes from its inventory so it can concentrate on more popular spots.

Christensen acknowledged that ultimately the decision to head the warning signs rests with individual beachgoers.

“It’s an advisory,” he said.

“People are free to do what they wish. This is just advising them of the risks.”

Swimmers exposed to E. coli in the water can develop infections of the ear, eyes, nose and throat, as well as gastrointestinal problems if they swallow enough polluted water.

Gaudet, who moved to St. Catharines 10 years ago from Louisiana, said she usually swims at the Lakeside Park beach three or four times a week during the height of the summer.

She trusts her judgment about pollution levels in the lake and has stayed out of the water only once, when the shore was coated in heavy algae.

Compared to some of the waterways in her home state, Gaudet said Lake Ontario seems very clean.

“We’ve swam in far worse,” she said.

Burlington couple Amy and Randy Morassut said they had concerns about letting their three young kids into the lake after seeing the warning sign about unsafe water.

They attempted to call the Region’s beach hotline number on the sign to find out the reason for the warning, but their cellphone battery died.

“It would be nice if they could put a little more information on the sign to say why it’s closed,” Randy said.

The couple eventually let their children play in the water, convincing themselves the steady waves would dissipate any pollution.

They acknowledged it’s tough to lead children to water and not allow them to get wet.

“(The water) is gorgeous. It’s blue. It looks like a perfect beach and then you can’t go in.”

To get Niagara Region’s regular beach updates call 905-688-3762, ext. 7268 or go to www.niagararegion.ca/living/health_wellness.

via Water quality suspect at handful of beaches – Niagara Falls Review – Ontario, CA.