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Due to high levels of bacteria in the water swimming is not recommended at Ambleside, Dundarave and Sandy Cove beaches. High levels of E. coli bacteria in the water increase risk of gastro-intestinal illness to swimmers. VCH is looking into potential sources of the contamination, including consulting with the District of West Vancouver, Metro Vancouver and the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Dr. John Carsley says recent hot weather could be to blame.
“The standard for swimming water is under 200 and usually, our beaches are under 100. These three beaches were over 200,” he explains.
“I think that the weather hasn’t been quite as hot and we’re just doing some more sampling. Usually, those beaches are fine for swimming, occasionally later in the summer, but we’ve had a lot of hot weather earlier.”
Carsley is hopeful bacteria levels will drop back to normal today.
High levels of bacteria are blamed on fecal contamination from human or animal sources.
Health officials say the waters of False Creek East, off Science World, have a bacteria count of 500, but an advisory has not been posted there because the rocky and steep shoreline is not considered a swimming or bathing beach.
Agencies/Canadajournal
