An East Side resident is disappointed summer is half over but Trout Lake in John Hendry Park is still closed due to high fecal coliform counts.
And the park board doesnt seem to be doing anything about it, said William Corden, whos gone swimming in the lake since moving to the neighbourhood with his wife seven years ago.
Corden said he has no problem with the maintenance taking place at the park, which made the news recently due to its long grass. But he believes the high fecal coliform count results from what he calls a lack of maintenance to Trout Lake. In a recent beach water quality report released by Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Coastal Health, Trout Lake measured 250 coliform bacteria count compared to 26 at Third Beach, 36 at Second, 87 at Sunset and 160 at English Bay. Trout Lake recently tested as high as 468.
Vancouvers beaches and lakes are sampled throughout the swimming season to determine compliance with the Canadian Recreational Water Guidelines. Using a standard mathematical formula, these guidelines establish a level of 200 coliform bacteria per 100 milliltres. Coliform bacteria is an indicator organism associated with sewage contamination. When water in the vicinity of bathing beaches exceeds the 200 coliforms per 100 millilitre level, the medical health officer will post signs that read, This Water Does Not Meet Health Standards for Swimming or Wading. According to Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Coastal Health, the risk of acquiring an infection is increased above this level of contamination.
Corden said he informed the park board in June that an additional water supply tap, which he believes was installed to maintain the water quality of the lake, should be turned on to keep the coliform counts down.
The engineering department responded that the additional water supply had no noticeable effect on the quality of the water, said Corden. And therefore, in the interests of water conservation the tap was turned on later and with a restricted flow.
Corden said when he inquired again as to why there wasnt more fresh water pumped into the lake, he was informed it was only needed to maintain the lake level and had nothing to do with the coliform count.
If thats the case, said Corden, why doesnt the water level drop measurably in the winter when the tap is turned off completely?
The park board referred questions about the lake to Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Coastal Health.
Shelley Beaudet, senior environmental health officer with Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Coastal Health, said Trout Lake has been considered unsuitable for swimming since last August when the fecal coliform count exceeded 200. The no-swimming signs were posted. The presence of fecal coliform may indicate that the water has been contaminated with the fecal matter of humans or other animals, said Beaudet, who added waterfowl may also be a factor. Beaudet noted the most recent counts show fecal coliform numbers are dropping at Trout Lake.
The coliform counts for Vancouver-area beaches are updated weekly, based on sample results provided by Metro Vancouvers Water Quality Laboratory.
Recent samples across the city include Kits Point (41), Kits Beach (42), Jericho (47), Locarno (43), Spanish Banks (37), Wreck Beach (29 to 43) and False Creek (44 to 145). False Creek is not classified as a swimming beach.
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