City confirms orange rocks are natural

KELOWNA – The City is confirming what they already knew, the orange tinged beaches around Kelowna are perfectly safe.

An independent company was brought in to test samples of water from Cedar Creek Beach after some residents and local media began speculating why rocks on Kelowna beaches were tinged with an orange colour. The city said it was nothing to be alarmed about and today, April 13, they confirmed with a media release.

“The orange residue is caused by naturally-occurring iron-related bacteria,” the release from the City of Kelowna says. “There is no risk to pets, people or wildlife posed by the bacteria, other than possibly staining clothing.”

Orange rocks have also been found at Rotary Beach and Kinsmen Beach. The findings were also confirmed by the Ministry of Environment.

Blair Stewart, Parks Services Manager says the bacteria surfaced due to low lake levels.

“It’s likely that the work to mitigate flooding by proactively lowering lake levels is in large part the reason that this orange colouring has surfaced this spring,” he says. “Once lake levels begin to rise, the colour will dissipate into the lake water again. “

Any residue remaining on the beaches will eventually dry out but Stewart says the rust-coloured coating left behind on rocks is also not harmful.

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