Sunset Beach closed for swimming due to high E. coli
Vancouver Coastal Health shut down the West End beach after water samples exceeded safe guidelines by up to 4 times the recommended level.
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Sunset Beach is closed for swimming after Vancouver Coastal Health detected high E. coli levels in the water. Samples collected Friday showed E. coli levels between 404 and 880 per 100 mL — well above the recommended guideline of below 200 per 100 mL.
Neighbouring English Bay Beach recorded safer levels between 135 and 313 per 100 mL, and remains open. Further west, Kitsilano Beach and Spanish Banks Beach have lower readings between 10 and 121 per 100 mL, with no swimming restrictions.
Exposure to water contaminated with high levels of E. coli can cause vomiting, infections, and diarrhea. The health authority monitors water quality regularly throughout the summer season.