Oshawa beaches closed

Several beaches in Durham have been deemed unsafe for swimming, including Lakeview Beach East and West in Oshawa

In total, six of the region’s 14 beaches have been posted and deemed unsafe for swimming due to elevated levels of E. coli, which exceeds the provincial standard of 200 E. coli per 100 mL of water.

The beaches posted this week include Lakeview Beach East and West, Bowmanville Beach East, Frenchman’s Bay East in Pickering, Kinsmen Beach in Scugog, and Newcastle Beach Central in Clarington.

Those open and safe for swimming are Beaverton Beach South and North, Bowmanville Beach West, Elgin Pond in Uxbridge, Frenchman’s Bay West in Pickering, Paradise Beach (previously Pickering Beach) in Ajax, Thorah Centennial Park in Brock, and Whitby Beach.

The region says the public should not swim in beach water for at least 48 hours after heavy rainfall as bacteria levels can increase due to run-off.

The Durham Region Health Department tests the water weekly throughout the summer for elevated bacteria levels.

For more information, visit www.durham.ca/beaches.