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Dragon Boat Canada


IDBF


Canoe Kayak Canada

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[mappingguy]

Does anyone know the cause of the high e coli levels?

If the sewer network was separated (sewage/rain water)  pre2010 then whats the cause? 

[Creature]

I'm not sure why the counts are so high this year.  The sample taking location may have changed, or if not, the flow into that location might have changed.  So many factors could be at play.  However, the east basin in particular has a low tidal flush; the current heat and lack rain are also contributors for sure. 

The North Shore, Sunset, Central and West False creek are unusually high this year too.  I don't think I've seen levels that high, and for such long period of time, in any of those areas before.

Anyone want to endeavour to convert the data from PDF's into a spreadsheet?  That said, I'm sure there is one somewhere within the CHA.

[Backward Rowing]

When West Vancouver closed their beaches this year, a local newspaper did an article. Vancouver Coastal Health suspected it was an illegal dump by a cruise ship or broken pipe near Lions Sewage Treatment Plant; however, they found no proof of this. Same article wrote about the boats moored in the east basin of False Creek, and said a similar story. VCH did not say why the E.coli count is so high this year.

[cath66]

someone from DZ expressed to me that part of the issue is the lack of Coast Guard presence moving and monitoring the pleasure boats and their...activities. It's possible that is one of many contributing factors.

[Backward Rowing]

Canada Coast Guard (CCG) may have moved their base from Kitsilano, they still patrol the waters of False Creek along with the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCM-SAR), Vancouver Police Department Marine Unit (VPD), RCMP West Coast Marine Service and Vancouver Fire and Rescue Service (VFRS). This is on top of Vancouver Coastal Health and its beach water quality surveys. So there are many eyes on the water.

As for the pleasure boats, it was not that long ago that the City of Vancouver did not control the water way. During this time, there were a lot more live-aboards moored in False Creek that did not have sewage hook-up to Metro Vancouver. The E.coli count was not in the same range as this summer. The problem with the water in those days was arsenic and other heavy metals from the chemical plants and pulp mills that exists along False Creek waterfront.

No one is certain why the False Creek E.coli readings are so high. My guess is careless pet owners who allow their animals to defecate in the watershed of False Creek. A small amount of water will bring this into the storm drain system into False Creek. Added with a lot more life in False Creek with birds, lack of tidal current, the constant sunshine which helps with algae bloom and hot temperatures, we have the creation of a very large toilet bowl. What will help is a few rainy days.

What I don't understand is why the West Vancouver beaches are closed as the tides and current do help clean out the waters there. Perhaps they too have many careless pet owners?

Let's not forget about Main Street construction of the re-alignment of the storm drain system which may include disconnecting sewage lines that were connected to the storm drains when the city was much younger and less stringent on those rules.

[Creature]

5319

https://www.vch.ca/media/Beach_Water_Quality_Report_August_21_2014.pdf

[Guts and Glory]

Only some of the sewer pipes are separated - it will take many years to do them all.  Under high flow (say a large rain event), they will combine and flow into the Creek.  That said, we haven't had any big rainfall events (even last week's rain wasn't all that large) in the last several weeks.

The monitoring locations do change but they're in the same general vicinity which is near the Northeast False Creek area where all the Geese hang out.  I'm sure the goose poop doesn't help but it's probably more than that.  Things like lack of tidal flushing, the shallower depth, and hence the increased water temperature are factors. 

But in 13 years of paddling, this is the highest I've seen , even higher than a few years ago when there was a sewer break that leaked into the Creek - there's got to be another contributing factor this year but it's difficult to say what it is.

[wanker]

Still pretty disgusting right now...

Sunset 951

False Creek
West 1512
Central 2073
East 5404

That's 5404 little doggies in 100 mL of "water" east of the Cambie Street bridge.  Note that 100 mL is less than half a cup of liquid.

It's nicer towards Jericho, but we still have to get the boats past Burrard to get beyond Sunset Beach.  Blecch!

[Backward Rowing]

Let's hope the cooler temperatures and a little precipitation helps.

[Special K]

Dogs poop in water? Really? Don't think so.

[Backward Rowing]

Ann Phelps from Dragon Zone speaking to CBC.
"She blames boaters anchoring in False Creek, which she suspects are dumping their sewage in the water."

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/false-creek-e-coli-contamination-threatens-dragon-boaters-1.2749563

[Creature]

Down to 5158.

http://www.vch.ca/media/VCH-beach-report-sept-4-2014.pdf

[madcap]

Only roughly 5000 to go.

[Backward Rowing]

September 11, 2014 Vancouver Coastal Health - Beach Water Quality Report (per 100 mL sample)
False Creek
West 291
Central 1047
East 2052

[Creature]

That's a big drop!  Below 2008 levels now.  I was paddling last night and was wondering where things were at.

http://www.vch.ca/media/VCH-beach-water-quality-Sept-11-2014