Public advised of increased bacterial levels at Rotary Beach, prompting a swimming advisory.
A swimming advisory has been issued for Rotary Beach in Rotary Beach Park. Though the beach remains open, advisory signs are posted to inform the public of current water quality concerns.
Other Kelowna beaches are unaffected and remain safe for swimming. The advisory does not impact paddle boarding, kayaking, or other above-water activities at Rotary Beach.
Young children, older adults, and individuals with weakened immunity are most susceptible to bacterial infections potentially present in the water. If E. coli levels reach 235 units per 100 milliliter sample, approximately one percent of swimmers could develop gastrointestinal illness.
Higher levels of goose and duck activity, as well as increased plant matter and water temperatures in the area, have contributed to elevated bacterial counts, according to Ed Hoppe, Water Quality and Customer Care Supervisor. He advises avoiding swimming at Rotary Beach until the advisory is lifted.
Swimming advisories indicate that bacterial concentrations exceed guidelines set by the BC Recreational Water Quality Guidelines, with a threshold of 235 E. coli per 100 milliliter sample.
Beach water quality is monitored weekly and results are reported to Interior Health. If guidelines are surpassed, testing frequency increases to daily until it is safe to lift the advisory.
Rotary Beach visitors will find advisory signs displayed during this period. Meanwhile, several other designated swimming beaches in Kelowna remain open to the public.
For a map of Kelowna’s beaches and further details, visit kelowna.ca/parks or contact the swimming advisory hotline at 250-469-8455.