Public Beach Water Quality
Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) assists local governments and beach operators who are responsible for providing a safe environment at designated public beaches.
About the Beach Water Quality Monitoring Program
The Beach Water Monitoring Program is based on the information in the Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality 2023. Beach operators are responsible for regularly taking samples to test for E.coli (a fecal indicator), and monitoring beach water quality during the swimming season.
Our Medical Health Officers will assess the sample results, weather conditions, beach operator reports, and communicable disease surveillance information to determine if a swimming advisory should be issued. In most cases a swimming advisory (i.e. red flag ) will be issued when:
- Consecutive single samples exceed 400 E.coli/100mL or the geometric mean exceeds 200 E.coli/100mL, and/or
- An assessment of the potential health risks determines the most effective approach to protecting public health is posting an advisory
A beach with a swimming advisory means users may have a higher risk of getting sick from gastrointestinal and skin/eye infections when they engage in primary contact recreational activities, such as swimming.
Beach operators are directed to investigate water quality issues when a sample result reaches 235 E.coli/100 mL (i.e. yellow flag ). This does not mean the beach site poses a health risk to the public, but rather an investigation and resampling are required to determine if environmental factors, such as weather conditions or wildlife populations, may have influenced the sample result.
Beach advisories
The following advisories are issued when the level of bacteria exceeds guidance levels and there is an increased risk of illness to swimmers. The public is advised not to swim or wade in the water until the advisory is removed. Seniors, infants and children, and people with weakened immunity are the most susceptible.
There are currently no advisories.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What does “water quality investigation in progress” mean?
When a single sample of 235 E.coli/100 mL occurs, it does not imply the beach site poses a health risk to the public. The beach operator will initiate an investigation and re-sampling of the site. The investigation may include a discussion with VCH to determine if any environmental factors may have influenced the sample such as reports relating to sewage or other waste spills, algal blooms, fish or shellfish die off, wildlife activity, and significant rainfall events. The investigation may also include a review of health surveillance data.
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What level of E. coli is too high? And what does it mean?
In most cases, repeat single sample results exceeding 400 E.coli/100 mL or a geometric mean of 200 E.coli/100 mL will lead to a swimming advisory. Beach operators will be required to post a notice at the beach, “No Swimming”. High counts of E. coli in recreational water may increase the chances of gastrointestinal and skin/eye infection.
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What does it mean when a “No Swimming” advisory is posted at a beach?
When the level of bacteria is high there is an increased risk of illness to swimmers. The public is advised not to swim or wade in the water until the advisory is removed. Seniors, infants and children, and people with weakened immunity are the most susceptible.
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How can I protect myself when swimming at the beach?
- Avoid swallowing water
- Avoid swimming with an open cut or wound
- Avoid swimming for 48-hours after a significant rainfall
- Avoid swimming in murky/turbid water
- Stay away from the water if you are experiencing digestive or intestinal problems
- After swimming, wash your hands before handling food
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What should I do after swimming in beach water?
- Rinse off well using soap and clean water, paying special attention to any cuts or scrapes. Dry out your ears.
- If you believe you have been exposed to contaminated water, take a shower and wash swimsuits, towels and other clothing that might have been contaminated as soon as possible.
- If you start to feel sick, seek medical attention. Tell your doctor you may have been exposed to contaminated water, and contact your local health authority to report your illness.
Sample results and additional FAQs
Download our full beach water monitoring frequently asked questions (FAQs) or detailed sampling reports, organized by area.
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Beach water FAQs
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Beach results - Route 1
Iona Beach and Garry Point (Richmond); Jericho Beach, Locarno Beach, Spanish Banks, and Wreck Beach (Vancouver)
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Beach results - Route 2
Stanley Park beaches, Kitsilano Point, False Creek (Vancouver)
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Beach results - Route 3
Crab Park and Brockton Point (Vancouver); Deep Cove, Cates Park, Ambleside Beach, Eagle Harbour, Sandy Cove, Whytecliff Park, Dundarave (North Shore)
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Routine results - Trout Lake
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Routine results - Bowen Island
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Routine results - Lions Bay
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Geometric Means
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Current beach status map
The map below shows the status of each monitored tidal and fresh water beach in the VCH region. Click on the beach icon to see its status, the geometric mean, sampling results, and sampling site location map.
Note:
Beach icons and current advisories are based on the most up to date information. Beach water quality is always changing, and sample results do not reflect real-time water quality.
Beach icons and current advisories are updated throughout the weekend but geometric means and routine sample result reports may be delayed.
Map legend
VCH compiles beach water quality data from beach operators to show beach conditions around the region. Click on the beach icon in the map above to see the beach status, water quality sampling results and sample location.
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Open to swimming
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Beach closed
Do not swim at a beach that has been closed. A closure is different from a “No Swimming” advisory. A beach will be closed if there is an immediate health and safety risk to the users.
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No swimming
When the level of bacteria is high there is an increased risk of illness to swimmers. The public is advised not to swim or wade in the water until the advisory is removed. Seniors, infants and children, and people with weakened immunity are the most susceptible.
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Water investigation in progress
When a single sample of 235 E.coli/100 mL occurs, it does not imply the beach site poses a health risk to the public. The beach operator will initiate an investigation and re-sampling of the site. The investigation may include a discussion with VCH to determine if any environmental factors may have influenced the sample such as reports relating to sewage or other waste spills, algal blooms, fish or shellfish die off, wildlife activity, and significant rainfall events. The investigation may also include a review of health surveillance data.
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Known swimming location – not regularly sampled
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Reference site
These are sites where water quality is monitored, but the water is not suitable for swimming because of poor water quality, tidal action, marine traffic or a hazardous underwater environment. Since the water may be used for secondary contact recreational activities, the data is provided to the public for information purposes only.
Reporting beach water quality concerns
Contact your local government or beach operator if you have concerns about conditions at the beach. For more information about historical beach water quality data at your local beach, please contact Metro Vancouver in the lower mainland or your local beach operator, such as your local government, municipality, regional or provincial park.