Parks, Trails and Beaches

Beach Water Quality in Hamilton

Hamilton Public Health strongly recommends keeping at least 2m or 6ft of physical distance between themselves and others at all times. Physical distancing is important, even outdoors.

  • Parks and greenspaces are open. Do not gather in groups of than more than 5. All bathrooms and port-o-lets in parks are closed. Litter collection in park is also temporarily suspended.
  • City Play Structures are closed until further notice.
  • Dog Parks are open.
  • City of Hamilton trails are open. The Hamilton Waterfront Trail (between Confederation Park and the Burlington Lift Bridge) is open. The Waterfront Trail between Princess Point and the floating bridge at the Desjardins Canal is closed for construction Monday to Friday between 7 am and 7 pm. 
  • Albion Falls is closed to visitors. Parking lots, viewing platforms and areas are closed. Residents are requested not to congregate at Albion Falls.

 

All public beaches in Hamilton are CLOSED

On March 17, 2020, an emergency order was made by the provincial government under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA) that orders the closure of all non-essential businesses including some outdoor recreational amenities for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency. The order sets out a list of affected outdoor recreational amenities, including beaches. As such, all public beaches in the  City of Hamilton are closed. Public Health Services is not monitoring water quality until such time as the order has been revoked.

 

Hamilton Public Health Services monitors the recreational water quality at public beaches each year for levels of E. coli bacteria and Blue-Green Algae (cyanobacteria). 

Public Health Services monitors beaches annually from the beginning of June until the end of August.

Beach water quality testing

Public Health services monitors beaches in accordance with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s Operational Approaches for Recreational Water Guideline 2018 and the Recreational Water Protocol 2018 under the Ontario Public Health Standards. As outlined in the above protocols, beach samples are collected and tested for E. coli bacteria at least once per week during the swimming season.

Beach sampling results cannot be guaranteed accurate as conditions can change quickly depending on the weather. You should not swim at the beach during and after storms, floods or heavy rainfall. Cloudy water may indicate high levels of bacteria.

For more information on ways to stay safe at the beach, visit the Canadian Red Cross’s website. 

To report safety hazards at the beach please call 905-546-2489.

Beach water quality test results

High numbers of E. coli in the water at public beaches indicates contamination with feces and the potential presence of other harmful microorganisms in the water. The provincial standard is 200 E. coli bacteria cells per 100 ml of water or 200 colony forming units per 100 ml.  

E. coli concentrations at or above the standard could cause an increased risk of infection. Swimming in these waters could cause infections in ears, eyes, nose, throat and skin as well as cause diarrhea if the water is ingested.

View water quality test results in our Open Data Catalogue.

Beach locations

Beach monitoring reports

Hamilton Public Health Services (PHS) provide an annual update report regarding recreational water quality monitoring at Hamilton’s public beaches and the activities undertaken by stakeholders to improve the water quality at these beaches.

Contact us

For more information, contact:
Phone the Safe Water Hotline: 905-546-2189
Email: [email protected]

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