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Vancouver beaches open to swimming again

It’s safe to go swimming at most Vancouver beaches again. Vancouver Coastal Health has lifted the swimming advisories for English Bay, Sunset and Jericho beaches.

It’s safe to go swimming at most Vancouver beaches again.

Vancouver Coastal Health has lifted the swimming advisories for English Bay, Sunset and Jericho beaches. The health authority issued the warnings Aug. 11 after high levels of E. coli were detected during routine sampling. English Bay and Sunset were cleared for swimming Tuesday and Jericho received the green light Wednesday.

 A mostly deserted Jericho Beach Monday afternoon. Vancouver Coastal Health issued a swimming advisory for Jericho, English Bay and Sunset beaches over the weekend after higher than normal levels of E. coli were detected. Photo Jennifer GauthierA mostly deserted Jericho Beach Monday afternoon. Vancouver Coastal Health issued a swimming advisory for Jericho, English Bay and Sunset beaches over the weekend after higher than normal levels of E. coli were detected. Photo Jennifer Gauthier

Trout Lake is still closed to swimming and wading due to higher than normal E. coli levels. That advisory was issued July 19.

Metro Vancouver beaches are monitored weekly from May to September to ensure that water quality meets the Canadian Recreational Water Quality guidelines, which recommend an E. coli level of no more than 200 bacteria per 100 millilitres of water. A test sample taken at Jericho last Thursday showed levels of the bacteria in excess of 400.