The CRD have issued a Wastewater Discharge Notice for Victoria, BC. Extremely heavy rainfall starting on Tuesday evening has resulted in combined stormwater and wastewater overflows along the shorelines of the Core Area in Greater Victoria.
Residents are advised to avoid swimming or wading, or allowing pets in the water along these shorelines, as the wastewater may pose a health risk.
Wastewater (sewage), heavily diluted by stormwater has flowed into the ocean at several outfalls in the affected areas, extending from:
- Arbutus Cove east towards Ten Mile Point and Cadboro Bay in Saanich
- Humber and Rutland Road beaches to McMicking Point in Oak Bay
- Macaulay Point west to Saxe Point in Esquimalt
The Capital Regional District (CRD) is in the process of collecting shoreline water samples.
As a precaution and in consultation with Island Health and the local municipalities, beaches within the affected areas will be posted with public health advisory signs until sample results indicate that enterococci levels are below the 70CFU/100mL recreational limit.
