Toronto beaches closed due to elevated E. coli after recent rainfall
Three beaches flagged as unsafe for swimming: Ward's Island at 337 counts per 100 mL, Marie Curtis Park East at 142, and Cherry Beach at 117.
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Three of Toronto's 11 beaches are unsafe for swimming due to elevated E. coli levels detected in water samples collected June 20.
Ward's Island Beach recorded the highest contamination at 337 counts per 100 millilitres of sampled water — nearly three times the city's caution threshold of 100 counts per 100 mL. Marie Curtis Park East Beach measured 142 counts per 100 mL, and Cherry Beach measured 117 counts per 100 mL. All three have been flagged as "caution advised."
The city's Beach Water Sampling Program, which operates daily from June through September, monitors water quality to prevent water-borne illnesses. E. coli can result from feces from waterfowl, rainfall runoff, failing septic systems, or sewage contamination. The eight other beaches tested — Woodbine, Kew-Balmy, Bluffer's, Gibraltar Point, Centre Island, Sunnyside, Hanlan's Point, and Kew Gardens — are classified as safe for swimming, with counts ranging from 11 to 60 per 100 mL. E. coli naturally decreases through sunlight exposure and water dilution. Residents can check the city's website for daily water quality updates before visiting.