Blue Flag flies over Kew-Balmy
[attach]259[/attach]Kew-Balmy Beach now has Blue Flag status putting the sandy retreat in league with some of the world’s best spots for a cool dip.
It becomes the seventh city beach to achieve the international Blue Flag rating by meeting 27 requirements including for high water quality.
But even this is not enough to convince most people to dive in the lake.
Just metres away from where a crew erected a new Blue Flag sign Hilda Seedanee was relaxing on a bench.
“I don’t go in the water,” she said. “I haven’t been using the beach to go swimming in.”
For her the issue is that pollution could end up in the water no matter how well the city cleans it up.
From June 1 through the end of August, the city tests the water daily for E.coli at all 11 designated beaches. Toronto Public Health issues a warning against swimming if bacteria levels are over 100 E. coli per 100 ml of water. Results are posted daily on the city’s website.
But Gloria MacFadyen isn’t quite convinced.
“I am very particular about water,” she said sitting on the sand looking out at Lake Ontario. “I wouldn’t swim here. I might put my feet in.
“I see people here put their kids and a baby in (the water),” which she said is something she wouldn’t do.
Like MacFadyen, Gordon Shaw said he loves this beach, but also doesn’t trust the water.
“The only beach I swim at is in Cobourg. It’s more esthetically pleasing with no pebbles in the sand,” he said.
While he praised Kew-Balmy as having the “nicest waterfront”, the factories that line the lake do not encourage him to swim.
“Honestly in the Toronto area, I don’t think you will get people swimming. The factories are pumping out pollution.”
However, there are people who do enjoy swimming at Toronto’s beaches. Sarah Winterton, director of education and outreach for Environmental Defence, which oversees the Blue Flag program in Canada is one.
“I do (swim),” said Winterton. “The water is often quite cold. But with the standards being kept by Toronto Public Health, they are doing an excellent job.”
According to Winterton, Kew-Balmy Beach hadn’t been designated Blue Flag in the past due to issues over water quality.
A beach must be open for swimming at least 80 percent of the previous season before an application can be made for Blue Flag status.
For a few years the city’s been close to meeting criteria for Kew-Balmy and last year exceeded the guidelines so it applied for Blue Flag status for this season, said Winterton.
The six other beaches that met the standard for this summer are: Cherry, Woodbine, Hanlan’s Point, Gibraltar, Centre Island and Ward’s Island.
“It says Toronto has some great urban beaches,” said Winterton. “Having beaches that people can access right downtown is a huge asset.”
Councillor Paula Fletcher said the city’s come a long way.
“During the ’50s and ’60s it became a place we put garbage, pollutions and pesticides into our water,” she said.
Now the city not only tests water and treats sewage before it goes into the lake, it looks to enhance its beaches.
“My goal is to increase the positive swimming experience for people so you have the experience of being in the ‘Riviera’,” Fletcher said.
This could include removing algae and stones from the shoreline so it has a more esthetic appeal when people venture into the water.
Fletcher is not waiting to take the plunge.
“I take my bike down and go for a swim,” she said.