It's hot. It's summer. Time to hit the beach.
With temperatures soaringrightacrossOntario, 2012 promises to be the summer of the beach.
Every summer, 8-million people flock to beaches on the Great Lakes. In a heat wave like this, relief comes from knowing how to find your closest beach and whether or not the water is clean.
Every summer, the number one question we get in our office is "Can I swim in Lake Ontario?"
The answer is yes, mostly.
In previous years we would track trends day by day and compile monthly reports for you about how your beach is doing. Now we have a new tool for you to use to get all this information right at your fingertips.
With Swim Guide you can:
Find your beach
Check recent and historical beach water quality
Get directions to the beach
Share the beach with your friends
Report pollution or send feedback about the beach
Lake Ontario Waterkeeper has been monitoring beaches carefully in 2012. With warm temperatures in May, we've already seen people flocking to the beach and splashing in the water with friends and family.
Overall, Lake Ontario beaches have shown good water quality this June. You can beat the heat at almost any beach on the lake without worry. Here are the beaches that have had poor water quality, so use them with caution:
, Burlington - 100% posted
, Burlington - 100% posted
, Oakville - 100% posted
, Oakville - 100% posted
, Oakville - 100% posted
, St. Catharines - 74% posted
Swim Guide gives you information about 1,700 beaches, including 800 on the Great Lakes. Water quality information is available on the website. For best results, download the app for free on iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch or Android.
Before you swim, surf - visit www.theswimguide.org now for up-to-date water quality information about your closest beaches.