Weekly beach test results now available online through Check&Go! Durham

Whitby, Ontario – Starting with the 2025 Beach Monitoring season, Durham Region Health Department will now post test results for all inspected local public beaches on the Health Department’s disclosure portal, Check&Go! Durham. This online access will provide area residents with real-time weekly inspection results.

When test results are available on Check&Go! Durham, social media reminders will also be posted every Friday to check the portal on x.com/DurhamHealth, instagram.com/DurhamRegionHealth and facebook.com/DurhamRegionHealth.

“The Check&Go! Durham online disclosure portal is one of the ways that we’re modernizing our services, allowing residents to access the latest information online, whenever it is most convenient for them” said Anthony Di Pietro, Director of Health Protection with the Health Department. “Through Check&Go! Durham, we’re able to provide residents with up-to-date, accurate information about public beach safety in real time to help residents  make informed decisions and protect their health this summer.”

Throughout the summer, the Health Department conducts bacteriological water tests to determine if beaches are safe for swimming. The Public Health Ontario Laboratory in Peterborough tests the water samples. Beaches are posted as unsafe for swimming when elevated levels of E. coli exceed the provincial standard of 200 E. coli per 100 ml of water.

The Health Department reminds the public not to swim in beach water for at least 48 hours after heavy rainfall, as bacteria levels can increase due to run-off.

To access inspected public beach reports in Durham Region, visit durham.ca/CheckandGo. For more information about the Health Department’s Beach Monitoring program, visit durham.ca/Beaches or call Durham Health Connection Line at 905-668-2020 or 1-800-841-2729.

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For more information, please contact the Health Department.