After the Niagara Region marked Queen’s Royal Beach in Niagara-on-the-Lake as unsafe for swimming due to high levels of E. coli bacteria on June 11, as of Friday, June 13, its beach water testing webpage has declared the beach safe to swim in.
The beach, found at the foot of King Street, is the only public swimming spot on the Niagara River.
Bacteria levels can go up because of wildlife, after rain, wind and other weather conditions, when the water is cloudy, or when there are a lot of swimmers in the water.
The water at Queen’s Royal Beach is tested each Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the summer, up until Labour Day.
Even if test results say the water is safe, that can change quickly — even during days between beach sampling.
Swimming in water with bacteria can cause things like ear, nose and throat infections and stomach and digestive problems if ingested.
People can stay safe by not swimming for 24 to 48 hours after it rains, avoiding the water if it looks cloudy or there are lots of geese or other wildlife around, not swallowing the water and washing their hands before eating if they’ve been in the sand or water.
The beach at Ryerson Park, about two kilometres west of Queen’s Royal, is not listed as an official beach and therefore is not tested.
Reports like these help the Niagara River Remedial Action Plan evaluate the overall health of the river, according to the town’s Queens Royal Park webpage.
