Dragon Boat West

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fGYwmmghvh4/Tj7eelSGX7I/AAAAAAAAANs/t3me24vDRPU/s912/false_creek_water_quality.png)

August 2, 2011
West	96
Central	50
East	270
Full Report (http://www.vch.ca/media/beachwaterquality_Aug2_2011.pdf)

After the recent discussions on the water quality of False Creek, I thought it would be helpful for those paddling in False Creek to have some quick access to the information Vancouver Coastal Health Water reports as well as a graphical representation of how it's been trending for the year.

Interesting, its gone up over 20+ since I posted the info last week. Wonder why the sudden increase.

We've had a few pretty intense rain storms in the lower mainland over the past few weeks.

It's likely they were strong enough to generate some stormwater overflow from the system to flow into the creek.

Perhaps the troller wanted to prove a point and decided to contribute his/her own fecal matter lol

(http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu330/cthulhu19887/forum/facepalm/facepalm_4.jpg)

Very much appreciate the update! On behalf of the paddlers with health issues, it's very important to know. We
often just don't go past Cambie Street when the counts go high, just as a precaution.
But it sure doesn't stop us from paddling!!
By the way, if anyone has not signed their Organ Donor registration card, we will have some at Alcan for you.
Just come by our tent. We will even give you a free tattoo.
Thanks, Bonnie, Gift of Life.

don't forget that the water does not circulate very well at the science world end of the creek.  with that said the water quality is not bad enough for concern.  go back the same time a few years ago and the water would be brownish red and squatter boats polluting the water (with occasional needles here and there).

time to paddle out in english bay! :)

Latest report (http://www.vch.ca/media/beachwaterquality_061710.pdf) is up. Looks like on average, False Creek's coliform counts have gone up 38.71% from the previous week.

yeah, back then if teams weren't careful they would be chow for the tylosaurus

I was working at the DZ docks on Tuesday, and I was just about ready to finish my shift. It was about 9pm, and my friend and I had just commented on how brown the creek was because the tide was so low. It was especially foamy with a dark sludgy substance and smelled worse than it looked. A thick veil of gasoline and sewage covered the creek... it looked as though you could walk across the surface.

Then, to our horror (and amusement), we heard a girl from an incoming dragonboat screaming... followed my several of her teammates yelling "nooooooo"

I looked over toward the Aquabus stop and saw 2 young men in their 20's wearing nothing but beach shorts, taking a running leap into the water. They entered the water cleanly with nothing more than a little "slurp" and came out feeling "refreshed" as told by their elongated "ahhhhh". They then proceeded to go to the top of the ramp and dive from the white fence (10m from the water at the time). They did this several times until I recollected myself and asked them where they were from.

They informed me that they are indeed from Vancouver, and that they do know the water is "dirty"... without knowing the extent of it. They jokingly told me that they know they will contract a disease soon. I told them they have no idea.

They hadn't known about the sewage outflow, nor the current levels of colliform floating around. I equipped them with my newly acquired knowledge from my beloved DBW website and they turned to each other with a  :shock: then walked back up the ramp, put their shirts on, and biked away. Their female companion was laughing hysterically.

Thanks, DBWTim!!!

Too late. Their third nipple must be visible right abt now.

mmm....third nipple means more selection!

Latest update to the False Creek Water Quality Report (http://www.vch.ca/media/beachwaterquality_070610.pdf). Please be aware that False Creek East has exceeded safe levels of coliform this week.

Whoa, 220. Time to go to Wreck!


Just out of curiosity...is Alder Bay considered West or Central False Creek?

It happens every year, so after a while, it gets to be like meh...whatever..


West, but since its sort of sheltered, the count is most likely similar to central or east FC.

Spit, don't swallow!

only in this scenario! ;)

thanks for keeping us informed Tim!  way to go DBW...
& congrats SPAIN!   :Cheers:

Latest update to the False Creek Water Quality Report (http://www.vch.ca/media/beachwaterquality_July15,2010.pdf). Looks like the water in False Creek East is back under the 200 coliforms/100 ml level. Guess we can enjoy paddling in the water without the risk of acquiring an infection for this week...

False Creek is 'definitely swimmable now,' says health official
Saturday, July 24, 2010  By Ethan Baron, The Province

http://www.theprovince.com/mobile/iphone/news/vancouver/False+Creek+definitely+swimmable+says+health+official/3316466/story.html (http://www.theprovince.com/mobile/iphone/news/vancouver/False+Creek+definitely+swimmable+says+health+official/3316466/story.html)

Even on the hottest summer day, most locals would be loath to dip a toe into Vancouver’s False Creek for fear of picking up a dreadful infection. But contrary to widespread public opinion, it’s safe to swim in the inlet, a health official says.

“It’s definitely swimmable now,” says Brian Johnston, environmental-health supervisor at the Vancouver Coastal health authority.

Once or twice a week, the health authority samples seawater around Vancouver to count fecal coliforms — bacteria from sewage and animal and human excrement. Ingesting water with high fecal-coliform counts can cause serious gastrointestinal illness. Skin, eye and ear infections can result from contact with highly contaminated seawater.

“The numbers we are getting for False Creek are what we call ‘beach quality,’” Johnston says.

False Creek bears a stigma associated with historical industrial use and sewage contamination that in the summer of 2008 saw dragon boaters and kayakers warned to shower as soon as possible after paddling there, following 2004 and 2005 advisories to avoid ingesting splashed water.

In June 2005, samples revealed a fecal-coliform count in False Creek of 520, more than twice the level of 200 that’s considered safe for swimming. In 2008, a sewage overflow pushed the number to 2,900 at the east end of False Creek, almost three times the 1,000 level considered safe for boating. AIDS victims and others with weakened immune systems were said to be most at risk from water-related infections.

Although the fecal-coliform problem has been largely solved through improvements in sewage-management and education of boaters, False Creek’s reputation remains tarnished, Johnston says.

“It’s an urban myth,” he says. “Our numbers are getting darn good.”

July 15 sampling produced counts of 69, 102 and 184 in west, central and east False Creek, respectively. The higher reading in the east likely resulted from a short-term outflow from a sewage pipe or a boater emptying a wastewater tank, Johnston says.

While live-aboard boaters in False Creek have in the past been vilified as a probable source of fecal contamination in False Creek, Johnston believes they don’t contribute greatly to the problem. Most boats have just one or two people aboard, and many don’t defecate in their onboard toilets, he says.

Heavy rainfall after prolonged dry periods can lead to sewage flows into seawater around Vancouver, Johnston says.

This month’s testing shows all Vancouver beaches are safe for swimming, he says. The highest beach reading — in East Vancouver’s Trout Lake, where bacteria from waterbirds, dogs and people accumulate in an unrefreshed body of water — was well below the unsafe-for-swimming threshold, at 156.

So if you find yourself up False Creek with or without a paddle, or at any of the city’s beaches, fear not the fecal coliform.

But if Johnston is to be believed, you may want to swim away from anyone making suspicious facial expressions: “It’s human nature, you get in the water, you usually go to the bathroom sometimes.”

So how come Brian Johnstone, the health official mentioned in this article, didn't go for a swim in "The Creek" just to prove his point and put his money where his mouth is, so to speak? Actions speak louder than words.
Personally, I won't be taking the plunge unless I huli.

After going for a swim in Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong, False Creek doesn't seem so bad.   :sick:

I learned that when you add the fatties from False Creek  to a light Magnum team, staying above the water is a challenge for the men's races in choppy water.

Maybe you should take a gulp of False Creek water and tell us which one tastes better  :lol:

Hong Kong water makes False Creek water seem potable...

let's just clean false creek....

here's the latest report.  


http://www.vch.ca/your_environment/water_quality/recreational_water/beach_water_quality_report/ (http://www.vch.ca/your_environment/water_quality/recreational_water/beach_water_quality_report/)[/url]

Great information

False Creek Water Quality Report as of Aug 19th

West 98   Central 100   East 560

560 thats 2 and a half times safe for swimming levels.

Is that why I have that nasty rash?  :shock:

As of Aug.23 sampling,

False Creek
West - 160
Central - 170
East - 550

www.vch.ca/media/beachwaterquality_Aug23_2011.pdf (http://www.vch.ca/media/beachwaterquality_Aug23_2011.pdf)

Wow, for once Trout Lake is better than East False Creek.

July 26, just before Celebration of Lights 2011:

West  96
Central  54
East  223


Aug 9th, after influx of squatter boats for the CoL

False Creek* West  79
Central  76
East  510

Should be a law and they should enforce it.........Gross!!!!

Oh good grief. I fell in 3 times since Aug 23rd. The last one I had a pretty big gulp of water too.  :x

Aug 30th

False Creek*


West     154
Central   231
East      644   And Climbing

I take it the floating foot didn't help lowering the count.  :lol: But holy feces...

eeeew!!!

I've noticed a few more SQUATTER boats in the past week.

Hopefully, they're here only for the Labour Day weekend.

I was out on the creek this morning by DZ.  The water was the cleanest I've seen it in months.  Saw a school of baby fish by the dock.