The City of Nanaimo will begin testing the waters at popular swimming holes for the season. During the summer, the city monitors bacteria content at the beaches at Brannen Lake, Colliery Dam Park, Departure Bay, Long Lake, Swy-A-Lana Lagoon (Maffeo Sutton Park) and Westwood Lake.
“We all treasure our clean, safe spaces to swim and recreate in open water – it’s part of what makes Nanaimo special. Please properly dispose of any pollutants such as paint, drywall, oils and pet waste so they don’t end up in our streams and ocean,” says Nanaimo’s general manager of engineering and public works, Bill Sims.
The samples test for E.coli bacteria and if the levels exceed provincial health guidelines, beaches can be closed.
The city is also reminding residents about bylaws prohibiting pets on beaches in the summer.
“To help keep water clean and beaches open, pet owners are reminded to take their dogs to designated dog parks and off-leash areas. “With shore birds and other naturally occurring wildlife in and around water bodies, adding pets to the mix could elevate the levels of fecal coliforms,” the city says in a news release. “The City of Nanaimo has a bylaw in place that states dogs are not to be on beaches or in the water between the beginning of May to the end of September each year.”
The latest beach reports can be found on the city’s website.
