Swimming advisory issued for Kits Beach due to high E.coli levels

Yet another beach in Vancouver has been closed down due to high bacteria levels.

Over the weekend, the Vancouver Park Board announced that swimming and wading at Kits Beach are currently prohibited.

Kits Beach has been closed to swimming due to high E.coli levels. #VancouverCoastalHealth provides water quality reports and has advised of the latest sample counts. Visit https://t.co/j1IfzCmvRH… for details and respect signage placed at the beach. @VCHhealthcare

— Vancouver Park Board (@ParkBoard) July 27, 2019

The Canadian Recreational Water Quality Guidelines recommend a level of less than 200 E.coli bacteria per 100 mL of water for swimming.

According to Vancouver Coastal Health, which conducts testing for Metro Vancouver’s Beach Water Quality Report, two samples from Kitsilano Beach have tested over the threshold.

One sample had 409 E.coli/100 ml; the other had 12,997 E.coli/100 ml.

Anyone who enters the water at Kits Beach is urged to wash their hands and shower immediately.

Symptoms of E.coli sickness include bloody diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and low-grade fever.

At this point in time, Snug Cove, Trout Lake, and Kitsilano Beach are closed to swimming and wading.