More beach closures in Metro Vancouver due to high bacteria levels

METRO VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Three more beaches have been forced to close due to high levels of a bacteria called E.Coli.

Vancouver Coastal Health closed Whytecliff, Ambleside and Sandy Cove beaches in West Vancouver due to water contamination.

That’s on top of the closures of Kitsilano, Kitsilano Point, Sunset beach and Trout Lake in Vancouver last week.

Laurie Dawkins with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) says high levels of the bacteria can cause vomiting, diarrhea and an upset stomach.

“So if people have been swimming in these waters they should go home, have a nice shower with warm water, soap, wash the swimsuits, wash the towels,” she says. “But, if they find themselves feeling ill they should go to the doctor and let them know where they’ve been swimming.”

RELATED: Water quality report ranks Metro Vancouver beaches

It’s unclear when the beaches will reopen but Dawkins says they will continue to test the water daily to see if levels improve.

But what exactly is E.Coli and where is it coming from?

“It’s fecal matter, really it’s what it comes down to,” Dawkins says. “There could be human sources form boating, other activities during this time of year; as well as animals, we have a lot of birds, you know, that needs to go somewhere.”

RELATED: High bacteria levels prompt swimming advisory at two Vancouver beaches

She says the latest heat wave has not helped as bacteria tend to multiply in warmer conditions.

Earlier this month VCH ranked multiple beaches across the region after testing for the bacteria. False Creek East ranked the worst with levels six times higher than what’s considered safe.

 

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