Bowmanville West and Frenchman’s Bay West only Lake Ontario beaches declared safe for swimming

It is to be expected after a prolonged heat wave. Bacteria counts rise, e-coli numbers in the water spike and the next thing you know your favourite has been declared unfit for swimming.

Ten beaches in Durham Region, in fact, have been declared a no-go for swimming this week, leaving just five that passed the weekly test administered by Region of Durham Health Department officials.

Beaches are posted as unsafe for swimming when elevated levels of E. coli exceed the provincial standard of 200 E. coli per 100 ml of water.

Just two Lake Ontario beaches passed muster: Bowmanville West (West Beach Rd. and Cove Rd.) and Frenchman’s Bay West (West Shore Blvd. and Beachpoint Promenade) in Pickering. Also good for swimming is Elgin Pond in Uxbridge and two spots on Lake Simcoe: Beaverton North Beach (Wellington St. and Victoria St.) and Thorah Centennial Park.

Closed at least until cooler weather arrives is Paradise Beach in Ajax, Bowmanville East Beach, Newcastle Beach Central. Lakeview Beach East & West, in Oshawa, Frenchman’s Bay East Beach in Pickering, Iroquois Beach and Whitby Beach in Whitby and Beaverton South Beach on Lake Ontario.