Black Rock Beach

Halifax, Nova Scotia
Managed by Re-imagining Atlantic Harbours in 2050
Join the RAH2050 shoreline movement Rivers to Ocean Week 2019

Located in Point Pleasant Park, Black Rock Beach is more than just a spot to swim on a warm summer day, it is haunted. The site of the public gallows in the 1700s, Black Rock is said to be haunted by Patrick Tulligan, a young man who was falsely accused of pirating and hung at the beach many years ago. The park is home to Shakespeare by the Sea, a theatre company who performs plays by the water during summer months. The beach is ideal for scuba diving because of the breakwater from the nearby Halifax Pier and eelgrass beds. The park has lifeguards, parking and public washrooms.

The beach is vulnerable to contamination from partially treated sewage when heavy precipitation
causes an overflow at the wastewater treatment facility. Always avoid water contact 3 days after heavy rains.

This beach is tested for both E. coli and Fecal Enterococci. It is not monitored by lifeguards.

Get directions to this beach
WATER QUALITY
  • Passed water quality tests 60-95% of the time
  • Historical Status
  • This status is based on the latest sample, taken on August 27th, 2019. Re-imagining Atlantic Harbours in 2050 updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on at
For water quality icon legend, click:   
CURRENT WEATHER
0°C
A few clouds
  • Report Pollution
MONITORING FREQUENCY

Black Rock Beach is sampled weekly from July 1st to August 31st

SOURCE INFORMATION

Halifax Regional Municipality staff monitor Halifax beaches and collects samples at designated beaches weekly from July 1st to August 31st. All designated beaches are tested for E. coli and some saltwater beaches are tested for Enterococci. When bacteria counts exceed the provincial standard, the beach is considered to be unsafe for swimming and warning signs are posted at the beach.

When bacteria counts exceed the provincial standard, the municipality also publishes Public Service Announcements on its website and announces the beach closure through social media channels.

Swim Guide checks the Halifax Regional Municipality website daily for updates during the swimming season.

A beach is marked Green when when the geometric mean of 5 samples collected within a 30-day period is below 200 E. coli / 100 ml of water.

A beach is marked Red when the geometric mean of 5 samples collected within a 30-day period exceeds 200 E. coli / 100 ml of water or when a single sample exceeds 400 E. coli / 100 ml of water. Officials will also close a beach if the Enterococci level reaches 70 counts per 100 ml of water.

Beaches may be retested when counts exceed 200 E.Coli per 100 ml of water. When counts exceed 35 Enterococci per 100 ml beaches are retested every 24-48 hours until levels drop below the accepted levels and closure is considered.

A beach is marked Grey when reliable or up-to-date information is not available.

****Swimming lessons are offered at all supervised beaches. In 2014, these lessons were offered at no cost.******

WATER QUALITY GRAPH

Black Rock Beach

Halifax, Nova Scotia
Managed by Re-imagining Atlantic Harbours in 2050
WATER QUALITY
  • Passed water quality tests 60-95% of the time
  • Historical Status
  • This status is based on the latest sample, taken on August 27th, 2019. Re-imagining Atlantic Harbours in 2050 updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on at
For water quality icon legend, click:   
CURRENT WEATHER
0°C
A few clouds
Join the RAH2050 shoreline movement Rivers to Ocean Week 2019

Located in Point Pleasant Park, Black Rock Beach is more than just a spot to swim on a warm summer day, it is haunted. The site of the public gallows in the 1700s, Black Rock is said to be haunted by Patrick Tulligan, a young man who was falsely accused of pirating and hung at the beach many years ago. The park is home to Shakespeare by the Sea, a theatre company who performs plays by the water during summer months. The beach is ideal for scuba diving because of the breakwater from the nearby Halifax Pier and eelgrass beds. The park has lifeguards, parking and public washrooms.

The beach is vulnerable to contamination from partially treated sewage when heavy precipitation
causes an overflow at the wastewater treatment facility. Always avoid water contact 3 days after heavy rains.

This beach is tested for both E. coli and Fecal Enterococci. It is not monitored by lifeguards.

Get directions to this beach
  • Report Pollution
MONITORING FREQUENCY

Black Rock Beach is sampled weekly from July 1st to August 31st

SOURCE INFORMATION

Halifax Regional Municipality staff monitor Halifax beaches and collects samples at designated beaches weekly from July 1st to August 31st. All designated beaches are tested for E. coli and some saltwater beaches are tested for Enterococci. When bacteria counts exceed the provincial standard, the beach is considered to be unsafe for swimming and warning signs are posted at the beach.

When bacteria counts exceed the provincial standard, the municipality also publishes Public Service Announcements on its website and announces the beach closure through social media channels.

Swim Guide checks the Halifax Regional Municipality website daily for updates during the swimming season.

A beach is marked Green when when the geometric mean of 5 samples collected within a 30-day period is below 200 E. coli / 100 ml of water.

A beach is marked Red when the geometric mean of 5 samples collected within a 30-day period exceeds 200 E. coli / 100 ml of water or when a single sample exceeds 400 E. coli / 100 ml of water. Officials will also close a beach if the Enterococci level reaches 70 counts per 100 ml of water.

Beaches may be retested when counts exceed 200 E.Coli per 100 ml of water. When counts exceed 35 Enterococci per 100 ml beaches are retested every 24-48 hours until levels drop below the accepted levels and closure is considered.

A beach is marked Grey when reliable or up-to-date information is not available.

****Swimming lessons are offered at all supervised beaches. In 2014, these lessons were offered at no cost.******

WATER QUALITY GRAPH



Swim Guide
is supported by
* The RBC Foundation

Swim Guide shares the best information we have at the moment you ask for it. Always obey signs at the beach or advisories from official government agencies. Stay alert and check for other swimming hazards such as dangerous currents and tides. Please report your pollution concerns so Affiliates can help keep other beach-goers safe.

Swim Guide, "Swim Drink Fish icons," and associated trademarks are owned by SWIM DRINK FISH CANADA.| See Legal.

© SWIM DRINK FISH CANADA, 2011 - 2019