Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) has reopened three beaches in West Vancouver that were closed earlier this week due to health concerns.

On July 31, VCH announced that it had found high levels of E. coli in water samples taken from three beaches: Ambleside, Sandy Cove, and Whytecliff.

Due to risk of gastro-intestinal illness, those beaches were closed to swimming, wading, and scuba diving.

VCH communications leader Tiffany Akins told the Georgia Straight that individual measurements (which is different from the average measurements released in water-quality reports each week) taken on July 30 at six locations at the three beaches all exceeded the safety threshold, with the maximum concentration exceeding 400 E. coli per 100 millilitres of water.

The geometric means (or the average of a minimum of five samples taken over time) for each location were released today (August 2) : 

• 61 for Ambleside;

• 54 for Sandy Cove;

• 51 for Whytecliff Park.

The safety threshold for geometric means is 200 E. coli per 100 millilitres of water.

Akins also informed the Straight today that the three beaches have been reopened, as resampled water results are now below the safety threshold.

https://twitter.com/VCHhealthcare/status/1025137455949729792

Bacteria levels have also been subsiding at Sunset Beach, which was also reopened to swimming and wading on August 1.

https://twitter.com/VCHhealthcare/status/1024803720943480832

Beaches that remain closed, however, are Kitsilano Beach, Kitsilano Point, and Trout Lake.

The City of Vancouver is reminding boaters, particularly those who may be out on the water for the Celebration of Light on Saturday (August 4), to utilize sewage pump-out services instead of dumping sewage into waters, which is illegal.