Help Fly the Blue Flag

Naturalize the Urbanized

Major cities in North America are redesigning their cityscapes to allow rain and snow to drain naturally into the ground.

Get Wet At Toronto's Cleanest Beaches

This summer Toronto has raised Blue Flags at its cleanest beaches - those have achieved high standards in water quality, public safety and the environment. These standards measure bacteria levels, like E.coli, and determine if the water is safe for swimming. Residents and tourists can be assured that our city beaches flying the Blue Flag meet these clean water standards for at least 80% of the summer.

Toronto beaches should be open, every beach, everyday.

In decades past, Toronto's beaches, often crowded, were a central part of summertime in the City. As the City grew, overflows from the sewer system polluted the water and our beaches, now often unswimmable, have become a very visible symbol of that pollution. Sadly, Toronto's beaches are no longer attractive to a majority of residents or tourists and a generation has grown up without clean beaches. This is valuable public space in the city that has been lost.

Change is happening! This summer the City raised Blue Flags at its cleanest beaches. While the majority of beaches remain polluted, the Blue Flags are a welcome sign of hope and optimism for the future of our beaches. Toronto City Council has also adopted a long-term strategy to reduce pollution in our watersheds and beaches and raise more Blue Flags along our waterfront.

TEA's Beach Watch Program

Clean water is important to a healthy environment.

Clean water is essential for a healthy environment.

Toronto residents are fortunate to have quality drinking water that is tested 300,000 times per year to ensure that it is safe.