Swim advisory at Kelowna’s Rotary Beach due to E. coli

The City of Kelowna has put up signs at Rotary Beach Park warning people that it’s not safe to swim.

E. coli levels have reached dangerous levels, beyond 235 units bet 100 millilitres, so very young kids and older adults are the most susceptible to infection, according to a press release from the City of Kelowna issued today, Aug. 13. 

“We’re seeing a greater amount of goose and duck activity and plant matter in this part of Okanagan Lake in addition to higher water temperatures, which can often result in higher bacterial counts. We are asking the public not to swim at Rotary Beach until this Beach Water Quality Advisory has been lifted,” the city’s water quality advisor Ed Hoppe said in the release.

“Most people would be fine, but there is that one per cent who could become ill.”

The city said other beaches are safe for swimming and people can still launch a paddle board, kayak or participate in other surface water activities at Rotary Beach.

The city tests water at the beaches each week and reports to Interior Health. Since a dangerous level of bacteria has been found the city is going to test daily until it’s safe to swim again.