Armours Beach, Soames Beach, Granthams Landing and Hopkins Landing were under advisory due to the levels of E. coli in the water, according to a press release from the Town of Gibsons.
All four beaches were closed based on single sample results indicating counts of more than 400 E. coli in 100 millilitres of water. Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) posted those results on July 12. On July 7, VCH water sample results taken at the four locations indicated E. coli present at concentrations from 115 to 1,450 parts per 100 millilitres.
Canadian Recreational Water Quality Guidelines recommend that beach water be monitored for the presence of E. coli using one of two standards. Those are a geometric mean of less than 200 E. coli per 100 ml based on the previous five samples or a single sample limit of less than 400 E. coli per 100 ml. When either limit is exceeded, an assessment of the risk to the public using the beach is to be made by the area’s medical health officer.
The advisory will be removed once water tests show the quality has returned to an acceptable level.
For more information on closures, check the VCH public notices. Daily updates for Armours Beach can be found at gibsons.ca/armours-beach.
