Why you shouldn't be swimming at these Vancouver beaches any time soon

If you’re planning to head to Vancouver beaches this week, you might want to check the water first.

As of July 16, multiple beaches across Metro Vancouver are under water quality advisories after tests showed elevated E. coli levels.

Dundarave Beach recorded the highest single-sample spike, with 2,187 MPN (most probable number) of E. coli per 100 millilitres.

The limit is 400.

Sunset Beach wasn’t far behind, with 1,723 MPN E. coli/100 mL.

Third Beach is under advisory for a different reason: its five most recent water samples averaged 224 E. coli/100 mL, surpassing the provincial geometric mean threshold of 200. This suggests an ongoing contamination issue rather than a one-day spike.

Other beaches also flagged for elevated levels include Trout Lake (301 E. coli/100 mL average), Lakeside Park Beach (650 E. coli in a single sample), and Lions Bay (203 average), all of which have exceeded the levels considered safe for recreational use.

According to British Columbia’s Recreational Water Quality Guidelines, a beach is considered safe for swimming if E. coli levels remain below 400 CFU per 100 mL in a single sample, and the 30-day average stays under 200.

VCH monitors beach water quality weekly from May through September, sampling for E. coli, a type of bacteria found in feces from people, pets, birds, and other animals.

When levels are high, it usually indicates recent contamination and increases the chance of people getting sick from ear, eye, or skin infections, or gastrointestinal illness from accidentally swallowing water.

Spikes like this can happen for a number of reasons.

According to VCH, possible sources of E. coli contamination include heavy rainfall and stormwater runoff, sewage system overflows, leaking septic tanks, and even boat discharge.

When water is contaminated with fecal bacteria, whether from people, pets, or wildlife, it increases the risk of infections and illness for swimmers.

While Vancouver’s beaches remain open to the public, advisories like this one serve as a warning to avoid direct contact with the water until conditions improve.

According to VCH, advisories are lifted once sample results return to safe levels and remain below both short- and long-term guideline limits.

Beachgoers are advised to check the VCH beach status map for up-to-date conditions.

Not the first time

This isn’t the beach’s first brush with water quality warnings.

In June 2024, VCH placed Sunset, Third Beach, and Second Beach under a Beach Action Value investigation due to repeated spikes in bacteria levels.

This week’s results mark some of the highest single-day readings recorded in the region this year, according to VCH data.

You can check the latest beach status using VCH’s real-time water quality map.

Daily Hive has reached out to Vancouver Coastal Health and will update this story when a response is received.

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