A popular beach in Vancouver’s West End has been closed to swimming due to elevated levels of E. coli bacteria. Vancouver Coastal Health ordered the closure of Sunset Beach on Friday after testing exceeded the single-day E. coli concentration limit. The health authority regularly monitors water quality at beaches around the region against two metrics: The 30-day geometric mean of all samples must be 200 E. coli per 100 millilitres or lower, and the “next day” single-sample total must be 400 E. coli per 100 millilitres or lower. According to the VCH water quality testing website, Friday’s next day result for Sunset Beach was 1,112 E. coli per 100 millilitres, nearly triple the limit. E. coli is found in the feces of humans, birds and all other warm-blooded animals, according to the health authority. “High numbers of E. coli in the water at public beaches indicates contamination with feces and the potential presence of other harmful microorganisms in the water,” VCH says on its website. “Exposure to elevated E. coli concentrations could cause an increased risk of infection in ears, eyes, nose, throat and skin as well as cause diarrhea if the water is swallowed.” Sunset Beach is one of two Vancouver beaches currently closed to swimming. The other is Trout Lake. Vancouver Coastal Health conducts weekly water sampling at beaches around the region between May and September.
