
Lifeguard supervision and water quality testing in 2025 will take place between July 1st and September 1st.
Know your swimming limitations if you choose to swim in unsupervised bodies of water. Always swim with a buddy in supervised areas and adults should never leave children unsupervised in the water.
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Supervised beaches
Beach status in 2025 is updated weekdays by 8 a.m. and by 9 a.m. on weekends (between July 1 and September 1st). Please note that beach closures due to suspected blue-green algae can happen at any time. This page will be updated as needed regarding blue-green algae-related closures.
Water sample results are provided when they exceed Health Canada Guidelines for Recreational Water Quality. More information on testing processes and Health Canada guidelines are available in the Water Testing at Supervised Beaches section of this page.
Beach Name | Location | Lifeguard Supervision | Water Type | Water Sample Results | Beach Status (Open/Risk Advisory in Effect/Closed) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Beach Name | Location | Lifeguard Supervision | Water Type | Water Sample Results | Beach Status (Open/Risk Advisory in Effect/Closed) |
Albro Lake Beach | Albro Lake, Dartmouth | July 1 - September 1 | Fresh water | 220, 230, 180, 110, 68 | Closed |
Birch Cove Beach | Lake Banook, Dartmouth | July 1 - September 1 | Fresh water | N/A | Open |
Campbell Point Beach | Hatchet Lake, Halifax | July 1 - September 1 | Fresh water | N/A | Open |
Chocolate Lake Beach | Chocolate Lake, Halifax | July 1 - September 1 | Fresh water | N/A | Open |
Cunard Pond Beach | Williams Lake, Halifax | July 1 - September 1 | Fresh water | N/A | Open |
Kearney Lake Beach | Kearney Lake, Halifax | July 1 - September 1 | Fresh water | N/A | Open |
Kidston Lake Beach | Kidston Lake, Halifax | July 1 - September 1 | Fresh water | N/A | Open |
Kinap Beach | Porters Lake | July 1 - September 1 | Salt water (brackish) | N/A | Open |
Lake Echo Beach | Lake Echo | July 1 - September 1 | Fresh water | N/A | Open |
Long Pond Beach | Long Pond, Halifax | July 1 - September 1 | Fresh water | N/A | Open |
Malay Falls | Sheet Harbour, Eastern Shore | No Supervision | Fresh water | N/A | Open |
Oakfield Park Beach | Shubenacadie Grand Lake, Oakfield | July 1 - September 1 | Fresh water | N/A | Open |
Penhorn Lake Beach | Penhorn Lake, Dartmouth | July 1 - September 1 | Fresh water | 90, 34, 54, 280, 150 | Closed |
Pleasant Drive Beach | Petpeswick Lake, Eastern Shore | July 1 - September 1 | Fresh water | N/A | Open |
Sandy Lake Beach | Sandy Lake, Bedford | July 1 - September 1 | Fresh water | N/A | Open |
Saunders Beach | Paper Mill Lake (dam side) , Bedford | July 1 - September 1 | Fresh water | 120, 150, 110, 130, 140 | Closed |
Shubie Park Beach | Lake Charles, Shubie Park, Dartmouth | July 1 - September 1 | Fresh water | N/A | Open |
Springfield Beach | Springfield Lake, Sackville | July 1 - September 1 | Fresh water | 6, 10, 390, 210, 90 | Closed |
Webber's Beach | Lake Charlotte, Eastern Shore | July 1 - September 1 | Fresh water | N/A | Open |
Taylor's Head | Atlantic Ocean | July 1 - September 1 | Salt water | N/A | Open |
Swimming and other primary contact activities are not recommended when a water quality advisory is in effect. More information about how a beach’s water quality status is determined can be found in the municipality’s 2025 Supervised Beach Water Quality Monitoring Protocol.
Water testing at supervised beaches
Municipal staff regularly test the water quality for bacteria (E. coli) levels, blue-green algae, and other waterborne contaminants at all supervised municipal beaches from July 1 to August 31.
Water Type | Bacteria Type | Average bacteria concentration over the last five samples (geomean) limit (CFU) | Individual sample limit (CFU) |
---|---|---|---|
Water Type | Bacteria Type | Average bacteria concentration over the last five samples (geomean) limit (CFU) | Individual sample limit (CFU) |
Fresh water | E. coli | 126/100mL | 235/100mL |
Salt water (Brackish) | Enterococci | 35/100mL | 70/100mL |
Bacteria testing
In 2024, the Halifax Regional Municipality adopted Health Canada’s updated Guidelines for Recreational Water Quality. The acceptable levels of bacteria in recreational water are displayed in the table below.

Allowable bacteria levels
When water samples show an exceedance of the guideline, measured E. coli bacteria concentrations will be posted with beach advisories in public service announcements and on the halifax.ca website.
While a swimming advisory is in effect, use of the beach area will be at the user’s own risk, lifeguards will be present on site to advise against swimming, and swimming lessons will be cancelled.
In 2024, Halifax Regional Municipality has adopted Health Canada’s updated Guidelines for Recreational Water Quality. The acceptable levels of bacteria in recreational water are shown above.
Swimming and other primary contact activities are not recommended when a water quality advisory is in effect. More information about how concentrations are measured, analyzed, and use to determine a beach’s water quality status can be found in the municipality’s 2024 Supervised Beach Water Quality Monitoring Protocol.
Blue-green algae monitoring & testing
If a suspected blue-green bloom is observed at one of our supervised beaches, the beach is closed immediately, and water samples are analyzed for toxins. The supervised beach will re-open once water sample results are within Health Canada guidelines. When a bloom is reported to the province in a lake where the municipality supervises a beach, municipal staff conduct follow-up monitoring to ensure water quality is within Health Canada guidelines.
View more information on algae blooms here.
Blue-green algae decision tree
Below is a flow chart showing the decision-making process used when opening or closing beaches following the observation of a potential blue-green algae bloom or mat near a municipally supervised beach.

Beach washroom or change room facilities
Washrooms and change rooms are available at the following beaches at the hours listed. These facilities open on the long weekend in May and close at the end of September each year. Portable bathrooms are available at all other supervised beaches.
- Albro Lake Beach: 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
- Chocolate Lake Beach: 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
- Birch Cove Beach: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Penhorn Beach: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
For information on beach closures, call our summer aquatics line at 902.490.5458.
Swimming lessons
To register for swimming lessons for summer 2025 visit our website in late spring 2025 to view registration dates. At that time, you can also call our registration line at 902. 490.6666. All lessons must be pre-booked.
Outdoor Pool Name | Location | Status | Lifeguard Supervision |
---|---|---|---|
Outdoor Pool Name | Location | Status | Lifeguard Supervision |
Bedford Outdoor Pool | Shore Drive, Bedford | Closed | July 1- September 1, 2025 |
Halifax Common Pool | Central Commons, Halifax | Closed | June 15 - September 15, 2025 |
Cole Harbour Outdoor Pool | 609 Colby Drive, Cole Harbour | Closed | July 1 - August 31, 2025 |
Outdoor pool memberships:
Memberships can be purchased at following locations:
- Lebrun Recreation Centre (36 Holland Avenue, Bedford)
- Bedford-Hammonds Plains Community Centre (202 Innovation Drive, Bedford)
- Sackville Sports Stadium (409 Glendale Drive, Lower Sackville)
- Cole Harbour Place (51 Forest Hills Parkway, Dartmouth)
- Findlay Community Centre (26 Elliot Street, Dartmouth)
- Needham Community Centre (3372 Devonshire Avenue, Halifax)
- Captain William Spry Community Centre (16 Sussex Street, Halifax)
Membership | Fee (including tax) |
---|---|
Membership | Fee (including tax) |
Adult | $84.68 |
Household | $169.37 |
Youth/Student/Senior | $63.51 |
Outdoor Pools will no longer be offering paid private pool rentals on weekends, allowing for more open swims for the public. Groups are welcome to attend public swims. You are asked to come early to secure your spots as swims fill quickly!
Please Note Pool Ratios: 1 adult for every 3 children under the age of 8.
Payment for open swims and lane swims will be taken directly at the pools via cash, credit, or debit. There is no requirement to pre-book swims.
Swim Fees: $2 (tax included) per person per swim.
* Swimming at the Halifax Commons Outdoor Pool is FREE
Splash pads
Splash pads across the municipality are now open.
Splash Pad Name | Location | June 15-25, 2025 | June 26 -September 2, 2025 | September 3-14, 2025 | Supervision | Status |
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Splash Pad Name | Location | June 15-25, 2025 | June 26 -September 2, 2025 | September 3-14, 2025 | Supervision | Status |
Bayers WestWood Splash Pad | 3315 Romans Avenue, Halifax | M-F 3:30pm-8:30pm & S/S 9:30am-8:30pm | Daily 9:00am-9:00pm | Daily 3:30-8:30pm | No | Open |
Cole Harbour Splash Pad | 609 Colby Drive, Cole Harbour | M-F 3:30pm-8:30pm & S/S 9:30am-8:30pm | Daily 9:00am-9:00pm | Daily 3:30-8:30pm | No | Open |
Halifax Common Splash Pad | Central Commons, Halifax | M-F 3:30pm-8:30pm & S/S 9:30am-8:30pm | Daily 9:00am-9:00pm | Daily 3:30-8:30pm | No | Open |
George Dixon Centre | Gottingen St., Halifax | M-F 3:30pm-8:30pm & S/S 9:30am-8:30pm | Daily 9:00am-9:00pm | Daily 3:30-8:30pm | No | Open |
Isleville St Playground | Sebastian St., Halifax | M-F 3:30pm-8:30pm & S/S 9:30am-8:30pm | Daily 9:00am-9:00pm | Daily 3:30-8:30pm | No | Open |
Sackville Splash Pad | First Lake Drive, Lower Sackville | Daily 11am-7pm | Daily 11am-7pm | Daily 11am-7pm | No | Open |
Westmount School | Edward Arab Ave. | M-F 3:30pm-8:30pm & S/S 9:30am-8:30pm | Daily 9:00am-9:00pm | Daily 3:30-8:30pm | No | Open |
Shirley's Splash pad | Dartmouth Commons | M-F 3:30pm-8:30pm & S/S 9:30am-8:30pm | Daily 9:00am-9:00pm | Daily 3:30-8:30pm | No | Open |