Ready to head to a beach in the Greater Victoria area?
You might want to see how the water quality ranked before heading there after results from a beach sampling test revealed high levels of bacteria and extreme water quality issues for one south Vancouver Island beach.
Since May 2021, Environmental Health officers have been reviewing water quality results from samples taken at popular beach areas on the island and the results are made available online.
Beach sampling testing occurs every summer and helps officials implement beach and swimming advisories, based on the results. This works to keep the public safe.
Sampling results indicate the number of E.coli (fresh water) or Enterococci (salt water) per 100 mL of sample water.
According to Island Health, a green result indicates the beach sampling identified no water quality issues. These beaches are generally considered microbiologically safe for swimming.
A yellow result indicates the beach sampling identified moderate water quality issues. This water poses a higher risk of illness and more sampling needs to be conducted.
A red result indicates a high level of bacteria is present and swimming is not recommended. At these beaches, significant risk of illness is present and a beach advisory is generally necessary.
Thankfully, most of our beaches on South Vancouver Island tested green during the 2021 sampling.
Two beaches were given yellow results: Esquimalt Gorge Park and Glen Lake.
However, testing at Gonzales Bay resulted in a red result, indicating high levels of bacteria and resulting in a beach advisory.
Beaches that test and result in a red category are sampled weekly to keep up to date on water conditions.
Click here to see the list of beaches on southern Vancouver island and their water current quality ranking.
