Water quality testing axed at four beaches
Region no longer taking samples at Waverly Beach in Fort Erie
Niagarans looking to beat the heat have four fewer beaches to head to that are monitored for safe swimming conditions by the public health department.
Niagara Region Public Health is no longer testing the water quality at Jones Beach in St. Catharines, Waverly Beach in Fort Erie, Bellview Beach in Wainfleet and Grimsby Beach.
Anthony Habjan, Niagara Region’s manager for environmental health, said over the winter months an analysis of Niagara’s beaches and its water testing program was done resulting in a decision to focus efforts on popular beaches.
“Some of these beaches were only being sampled one day a week,” he said, noting the more popular beaches such as Lakeside Park in Port Dalhousie and Bay Beach in Crystal Beach, are sampled six days a week.
“There are thousands of people going to those beaches.”
When it came to Jones Beach, the health department opted to look at its history. From 2015 to 2017, the beach was deemed unsafe for swimming 60 to 80 per cent of the time.
“That’s a high number, so it’s a beach we know has heavy contamination,” he said.
While the Region has indicated the change on its online testing results page, as of Monday no notice had been posted at Jones Beach. Instead, a red and yellow warning sign simply notified beachgoers that recent water sample results indicate the water is not suitable for swimming and contact with the water may cause illness. The sign directs people to contact public health for further information.
Habjan said new signage has
been provided to the city but it had yet to be posted.
While the Region may no longer be testing water quality at the beach, the City of St. Catharines has opted to start collecting and testing water samples.
Mark Green, the city’s manager of environmental services, said staff began collecting water samples and having lab analysis done at a private, accredited, licensed lab in Niagara Falls.
“We’re interested in the water quality data,” he said. “There are many things that happen in St. Catharines that can have an impact on the beaches. We want to have an idea if the water quality is getting better or not there.”
While the lab will be doing the same E. coli testing for the beach water as the Region does, the results will not be posted publicly. Instead it’s for the city’s monitoring purposes. Green said staff already collect samples from St. Catharines’ many creeks and send them to the lab for testing on a regular basis.
Jones Beach, he said, has not traditionally had the best the water quality.
“It’s on the east side of the Welland Canal and it’s very sheltered in its bay,” he said, adding that the water doesn’t flush out there as quickly as it does at St. Catharines’ other beaches, Lakeside and Sunset.
There are 23 other beaches across Niagara tested on a regular basis by the Region, with results regularly posted on its website.
Beach water samples are tested for E. coli concentrations compared to the national standard. Anything found at or above the standard level will result in the beach being posted as unsafe for swimming.
Beaches can also be considered unsafe for swimming based on other safety hazards such as debris or water quality issues stemming from algae or turbidity.