Talk about crappy timing.
If you’re one of hundreds of thousands of people expected to pack Vancouver’s beaches to watch the annual Celebration of Light, you may have to skip a pre-fireworks swim.
Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) has closed Kits and Sunset Beaches to swimming due to unsafe levels of bacteria.
High levels of E. coli bacteria have been detected at the two beaches, along with Kitsilano Point in between them.
“The E. coli count in the water has actually been fluctuating quite dramatically up and down over the past week,” said VCH vice president of communications Laurie Dawkins.
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Vancouver Coastal Health’s safety guideline that determines when a beach is closed is 200 E. coli per millilitre.
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Dawkins said high E. coli levels are normal this time of year, and can be caused by a number of factors including the heat and human and animal waste.
“There’s all types of things that contribute to it, unfortunately fecal matter is fecal matter when you’re doing E. coli counts, so yes, there is some human wste from boaters… but also a lot of water fowl,” she said.
The closure comes at an inopportune time, with both beaches viewed as prime fireworks viewing spots, and Metro Vancouver still under a heat warning.
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Dawkins said officials regret the closure, but that “safety is safety,” and staff will be on hand on the crowded beaches to keep people from swimming or wading.
“There are representatives down on the beach from the Vancouver Park Board working in partnership with our licensing officers, so there is a presence on the beach, somebody to tell people what’s going on, there’s signs posted and they are taping off access to the water.”
Dawkins said it’s important to follow the advisory because exposure to E. coli can cause gastrointestinal illness, which can lead to vomiting and diarrhea.
She said anyone exposed to contaminated water should wash off with soapy water, paying special attention to cuts and scrapes, and wash their swimsuits and towels.
Vancouver’s Trout Lake also remains closed due to high E. coli levels.
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