The Beach Report for August 2 to 8, 2024

Water quality testing results for beaches in Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton, and Northumberland, and Hastings and Prince Edward

A view of Victoria Beach on Lake Ontario in Cobourg. (Photo courtesy of Linda McIlwain)
A view of Victoria Beach on Lake Ontario in Cobourg. (Photo courtesy of Linda McIlwain)

Every Friday during swimming season, we post The Beach Report™ — our weekly report of the results of water quality testing at beaches in the greater Kawarthas region — and update it throughout the week as conditions change.

As of Thursday, August 8, the following beaches are unsafe for swimming:

  • Rogers Cove – City of Peterborough
  • Douro North Park – County of Peterborough
  • Hiawatha Park – County of Peterborough
  • Rotary Head Lake Beach – Dysart et al
  • Harwood Waterfront & Dock – Hamilton Township
  • Hastings Waterfront North – Trent Hills
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Below are the complete results of water quality testing at beaches in the City and County of Peterborough, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, Northumberland County, and Hastings County and Prince Edward County.

In the City of Peterborough, Peterborough Public Health Inspectors sample the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead every business day, and public beaches in the County of Peterborough are sampled at least once a week (except for Chandos Beach, Quarry Bay Beach, and White’s Beach which are sampled at least once in June, July, and August).

The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit provides weekly testing results for beaches in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton County, and Northumberland County. Testing is based on the most recent test results from the provincial lab in Peterborough for water samples taken from these beaches.

As of 2024, Hastings Prince Edward Public Health provides weekly testing results for only five designated public beaches in Hastings County and Prince Edward County. It no longer regularly samples another 13 beaches due to historically low occurrence of high bacteria levels.

During the summer, local health units sample water at area beaches and test for bacteria such as E. coli to determine if the water quality at a beach is safe for public use. Popular beaches, like the beach at Roger's Cove in Peterborough's East City, are tested every business day while most other beaches are tested weekly. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)
During the summer, local health units sample water at area beaches and test for bacteria such as E. coli to determine if the water quality at a beach is safe for public use. Popular beaches, like the beach at Roger’s Cove in Peterborough’s East City, are tested every business day while most other beaches are tested weekly. (Photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW.com)

Important note

The following test results may not reflect current water quality conditions. Water samples can take one to three days to process and heavy rainfall, high winds or wave activity, large numbers of waterfowl near a beach, or large numbers of swimmers can rapidly change water quality.

You should always check current conditions before deciding to use a beach. You should also monitor other factors that might suggest a beach is unsafe to use, such as floating debris, oil, discoloured water, bad odours, and excessive weed growth.

While we strive to update this story with the current conditions, you should confirm the most recent test results by visiting the local health unit websites at Peterborough Public Health and Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit, and Hastings Prince Edward Public Health. As noted above, the beaches at Rogers Cove and Beavermead are tested every business day so the results listed below may not be current.

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Peterborough City/County

City of Peterborough Beaches (sampled each business day)

Beavermead Park (2011 Ashburnham Drive, Peterborough) – sample date 6 August – SAFE

Rogers Cove (131 Maria Street, Peterborough) – sample date 6 August – UNSAFE

*Note: Blue-green algae has been sighted at Rogers Cove numerous times this summer. If blue-green algae is visible when you visit the beach, do not enter the water.

Peterborough County Beaches (sampled weekly)

Buckhorn Beach (12 John Street, Buckhorn, Municipality of Trent Lakes) – sample date 30 July – SAFE

Crowe’s Line Beach (240 Crowe’s Line Road, Trent Lakes) – sample date 30 July – SAFE

Douro North Park (251 Douro Second Line, Township of Douro-Dummer) – sample date 6 August – UNSAFE

Ennismore Waterfront Park (1053 Ennis Road, Ennismore) – sample date 30 July – SAFE

Henry’s Gumming (150 Chemong Street S, Curve Lake) – sample date 30 July – SAFE

Hiawatha Park (1 Lakeshore Road, Hiawatha) – sample date 6 August – UNSAFE

Jones Beach (908 Jones Beach Road, Bridgenorth) – sample date 30 July – SAFE

Lakefield Park (100 Hague Boulevard, Lakefield) – sample date 6 August – SAFE

Lime Kiln Park (150 Whetung Street E, Curve Lake) – sample date 30 July – SAFE

Sandy Beach (1239 Lakehurst Road, Municipality of Trent Lakes) – sample date 30 July – SAFE

Selwyn Beach Conservation Area (2251 Birch Island Road, Selwyn) – sample date 30 July – SAFE

Squirrel Creek Conservation Area (2445 Wallace Point Road, South Monaghan) – sample date 6 August – SAFE

Warsaw Caves Conservation Area (289 Caves Road, Warsaw, Township of Douro-Dummer) – sample date 29 July – SAFE

Peterborough County Beaches (sampled monthly)

Belmont Lake Beach (376 Mile of Memories Road, Belmont) – sample date 6 August – SAFE

Chandos Beach (2800 County Road/Highway 620, North Kawartha) – sample date 18 July – SAFE

Kasshabog Lake (431 Peninsula Road, Havelock) – sample date 25 July – SAFE

Quarry Bay (1986 Northey’s Bay Road, Woodview) – sample date 25 July – SAFE

White’s Beach (26 Clearview Drive, Trent Lakes) – sample date 22 July – SAFE

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City of Kawartha Lakes

Results updated August 7.

Beach Park – Bobcaygeon – SAFE

Birch Point – Fenelon Falls – SAFE

Blanchards Road Beach – Bexley – SAFE

Bond Street – Fenelon Falls – SAFE

Burnt River Beach – Somerville – SAFE

Centennial Park West – Eldon – SAFE

Centennial Beach – Verulam – SAFE

Centennial Verulam Parkette – SAFE

Four Mile Lake Beach – Somerville – SAFE

Head Lake Beach – Laxton – SAFE

Lions Park – Coboconk – SAFE

Norland Bathing Area – Laxton – SAFE

Omemee Beach – Emily/ Omemee – SAFE

Riverview Beach Park – Bobcaygeon – SAFE

Sturgeon Point Beach – Fenelon Falls – SAFE

Valentia/ Sandbar Beach – Valentia – SAFE

Verulam Recreational Park – Verulam – SAFE

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Haliburton County

Results updated August 7.

Rotary Head Lake Beach – Dysart et al – UNSAFE

Bissett Beach – Minden Hills – SAFE

Dorset Parkette – Algonquin Highlands – SAFE

Eagle Lake Beach – Dysart et al – SAFE

Elvin Johnson Park – Algonquin Highlands – SAFE

Foresters Beach – Minden Hills – SAFE

Glamour Lake Beach – Highlands East – SAFE

Gooderham Lake Beach – Highlands East – SAFE

Haliburton Lake Beach – Dysart et al – SAFE

Horseshoe Beach – Minden Hills – SAFE

Paudash Lake Beach – Highlands East – SAFE

Pine Lake Beach – Dysart et al – SAFE

Rotary Park Lagoon – Minden Hills – SAFE

Rotary Park Main – Minden Hills – SAFE

Sandy Cove Beach – Dysart et al – SAFE

Sandy Point Beach – Dysart et al – SAFE

Slipper Beach – Dysart et al – SAFE

Twelve Mile Lake Beach – Minden Hills – SAFE

Wilbermere Lake Beach – Highlands East – SAFE

 

Northumberland County

Results updated August 7.

Harwood Waterfront & Dock – Hamilton Township – UNSAFE

Hastings Waterfront North – Trent Hills – UNSAFE

Caldwell Street Beach – Port Hope – SAFE

Cobourg Victoria Park Beach – Northumberland – SAFE

Crowe Bridge Park – Trent Hills – SAFE

East Beach – Port Hope – SAFE

Hastings Waterfront South – Trent Hills – SAFE

Little Lake – Cramahe – SAFE

Sandy Bay Beach – Alnwick-Haldimand – SAFE

West Beach – Port Hope – SAFE

Wicklow Beach – Alnwick-Haldimand – SAFE

 

Hastings County and Prince Edward County

Centennial Park, Deseronto Bay of Quinte – SAFE

Frankford Park Trent River – SAFE

Kingsford Conservation Area Salmon River – SAFE

Tweed Park Stoco Lake – SAFE

Wellington Beach Wellington Bay – SAFE