Public Beach Water Quality
Related topics: Health protection, permits & licensing Pools and beaches
Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) assists local governments and beach operators who are responsible for providing a safe environment at designated public beaches.
About Vancouver Coastal Health's Beach Water Quality Program
Welcome to Vancouver Coastal Health’s (VCH) Summer Beach Water Quality Website. The VCH region is home to a great selection of recreational beach venues, including freshwater lakes, and tidal marine environments. Our beaches provide great opportunities for aquatic recreation, as well as being ideal places to beat-the-heat during the summer. Every week from May through September, the water is sampled at many popular beaches throughout our region. Samples are tested for bacteria, which in turn tells us whether there is feces (poop) in the water from people, pets, or wildlife. Feces in water can make people ill or cause infections, from swimming or playing in the water. The standards we apply throughout our program comes from Health Canada’s Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality. Our program is conducted in collaboration with partner agencies who manage our beaches, conduct the sampling, and analyze our recreational waters.
What is the purpose of the Beach Water Quality Program?
The purpose of the program is to provide the public with beach water quality monitoring results, in easy-to-read format. This will enable the public to make informed decisions about visiting or participating in aquatic activities at designated beaches within our region. On occasion, harmful contaminants may enter our waters from various sources such as sewage or storm water discharges, or birds and animals gathering in and around water. Elevated levels of certain bacteria increases the risk of illness for persons exposed to the water. Canadian Guidelines have established monitoring values for harmful bacteria. These values represent risk management decisions that are based on a thorough assessment of the potential risks for the recreational water user, considering both the potential health risks, and the benefits of recreational water use in terms of physical activity and enjoyment. Most of the time, there is a low chance of getting ill, but any time there is an elevated risk, Public Health will recommend that people stay out of the water until the chance of illness diminishes.
Changes to beach monitoring
VCH has introduced Beach Action Values (BAVs) taken from Health Canada’s guidelines implemented in 2023. Bathers’ primary risk is exposure to bacteria in water by accidental ingestion (swallowing water). Research in this area has developed the concept of BAVs, which will initiate enhanced monitoring and investigative actions when set values are exceeded. Exceedances are indicative that an environmental factor may be influencing a higher than expected sample result. This level does not imply that the beach poses a health risk, and swimming is not restricted, but investigative efforts are made to proactively identify the source of contamination, such as sewage discharges or animal and bird populations in the vicinity. Re-sampling may be undertaken and all pertinent information gathered will assist with future day-to-day beach management decisions, directed at mitigating future occurrences.
Sampling parameters and frequencies
Beach owners/operators test beach water quality during the swimming season from April to September. While most beaches are tested each week, remote beaches may not always meet this recommended frequency. Collected samples are analyzed for a specific type of bacteria called E. coli. These bacteria are found in the feces of people, as well as all warm-blooded animals and birds. 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. 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.
Guideline values
The Canadian Guidelines recommends using both a maximum geometric mean (average of samples over time), and a single-sample maximum limit. The use of these 2 limits allows for a better evaluation of the water quality both in the short term and over time. The single-sample limit will alert us to any immediate water quality issues, whereas the geometric mean limit will highlight possible chronic contamination problems. This dual approach represents good monitoring practice as part of an overall commitment to a strategy of risk management for our recreational waters.
| Geometric mean of most recent 5 samples | Equal to or greater than 200 E. coli/100 mL |
| Consecutive (next day) single-sample maximum | Equal to or greater than 400 E. coli/100 mL |
| Beach Action Value Investigation | 235 E. coli/100 mL, or higher |
Sampling status
Note: Monitoring beach water quality has ended for the season. Beach water testing will resume, and results will be available for the polar bear swim. Regular sampling will start in May 2025.
The following questions and answers will be helpful for those who continue to recreate at the bathing beaches in the offseason.
Frequently Asked Questions
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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 diarrhea
- After swimming, wash your hands before handling food
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What should I do after swimming in beach water?
- If showers are available, rinse off well as a precaution, paying special attention to any cuts or scrapes
- 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
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Why does beach water require testing?
Water at selected recreational beaches requires regular testing to ensure that beach users are kept informed as to whether water quality is at a safe level for public recreation. Poor water quality may present a risk of illness or infection. Beach water can be influenced quickly by different environmental factors, such as currents, tides, wildlife populations, weather conditions etc. It is important to note that water sampling provides a snapshot of the water quality, in the vicinity of the sample location, at the time the sample was taken. Therefore, the information provided may not always be representative of current conditions.
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What standards are used to determine if beaches can stay open?
The presence of E. coli is used as a fecal indicator to determine if beaches require a not suitable for swimming advisory. E. coli is a bacterium commonly found in the intestinal tract of animals and humans. It is an effective indicator to determine beach water quality and meets the recommendations outlined in Health Canada’s Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality – Indicators of Fecal Contamination 2023 (GCRWQ 2023). VCH has updated its beach water quality monitoring program to reflect the changes in the updated GCRWQ 2023. The key change is if a single sample exceeds 235 E.coli/100 mL (as opposed to 400 E.coli/100 mL prior to 2023), a contamination investigation, and resampling will be triggered.
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What does “water quality investigation in progress” mean?
When a single sample exceeds 235 E.coli/100 mL, it does not imply the beach site poses a health risk to the public. It indicates a likelihood of a local contamination event which needs further investigation to identify the source. Beach management, sampling agencies, and VCH collaborate in this investigation. The importance is in understanding the microbial source of contamination – i.e.. human, other mammals like dogs or from birds etc., as well as the cause – significant rainfall, sewage discharges etc. The ultimate goal is to characterize an affected beach location to enable the prediction and mitigation of future events.
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Which beaches are tested regularly and who does the sampling and testing?
Beach owners and operators decide which beach sites are regularly tested. They are also responsible for collecting their own water samples but may make arrangements for others to do so. For example, in the lower mainland, Metro Vancouver performs the sampling for the majority of beach operators. Samples are sent to an approved laboratory for analysis. VCH reviews the results and then posts them on this website.
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Why is a beach missing from the map?
Only beaches that are routinely sampled are shown on the map. These are beach locations that are widely used, and generally recreation areas established by local governments. There are many more unestablished areas that people may choose to frequent, but it would not be feasible to sample them all.
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What does the lab look for in the beach water?
Beach water is tested for the presence of E. coli, a bacterium (used as an indicator species) commonly found in the intestinal tract or feces of humans, animals, and birds.
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What is the source of the E. coli contamination?
There are many possible sources of E.coli contamination.
- Heavy rain and subsequent surface runoff from contaminated sources
- Sewage system overflows
- Leaking septic tanks, and discharge from boats.
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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 (geometric mean is the average of a certain number of samples, taken over a specific period of time). Beach operators will be required to post a notice at the beach, “not suitable for swimming”. High counts of E. coli in recreational water may increase the chances of gastrointestinal illnesses and skin/eye infection.
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What does it mean when a “not suitable for 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.
An advisory pertains to the water only. It does not affect enjoyment of the rest of the beach.
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Will I get sick if I go into water that is under advisory?
There is no way to say for sure whether you will get sick if you go into water that is under advisory, but you will have a higher chance of getting sick. The risk of getting sick is higher if you engage in primary contact recreational activities, such as swimming, paddle boarding and surfing, as your whole body is immersed. You will have a higher chance to swallow water or get water in the nose, eyes, ears, or an open wound. Examples of possible illness include stomach upset, ear infection, sore throat, or wound infection. If you engage in secondary contact recreational activities, such as canoeing, kayaking, sailing and fishing, or where only regular wetting of limbs is involved and swallowing of water is not usual, the risk of getting sick will be lower.
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When does an advisory end?
When test results show that the beach water quality has returned to an acceptable level, the advisory will be removed. Beach operators will be notified the beach is suitable for swimming and signage will be removed. The website will be updated.
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What are reference sites?
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.
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When would a beach be closed?
A closure is different from a “not suitable for swimming” advisory. A beach will be closed if there is an immediate health and safety risk to the users. No one should swim at a beach that has been closed.
Events that could lead to the closure of beaches:
- Chemical, oil, sewage, or other hazardous waste spills
- Wastewater treatment plant bypasses or accidental discharges
- Visible, or sub-surface hazardous debris, metal, or sharp objects, rocks etc
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Why do some beaches not have a geometric mean?
The number of samples collected by the beach operator is not sufficient to calculate a geometric mean. The beach remains open based on the available sample results.
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.
Contact us
If you have questions or issues related to environmental health, inspections or facility licensing, you can reach us using the health protection feedback form or through your local health protection office.