Kits Beach closed to swimmers due to high E. Coli levels

Kitsilano Beach is closed to swimmers due to high levels of E. Coli, says Vancouver Coastal Health.

The closure falls on the same day as the Honda Celebration of Light festival, which draws big crowds each year to Kits Beach for the fireworks display.

Advisories for the popular beach are issuedif the levels of E. Coli bacteria exceed 400per 100 millilitres of water.

E. coli, or Escherichia coli bacteria, normally live in the intestines of healthy people and animals, but certain strains can cause illness in people.

Its presence in water is often associated with fecal contamination, which could come fromhumans, animals, waste dumped from boatsand leaks in the sewage system.

The most recent samples collected at two Kits Beach stationsfound 12,997 E. Coliper 100 millilitres of water in one area and 1,515 E. Coli per100 millilitres of water atanother.

It's not the first beach to close this summer due to high bacterial levels.

Trout Lake in East Vancouver hasbeen closed to swimmers since July 17.

A similar ban at Sunset Beach in the West End was lifted earlier this week.

Ambleside Beach in West Vancouver was closed to swimmers earlier this summer, but has also since re-opened.

An advisory remains in effect for Snug Cove on Bowen Island.

The closures have spurred calls for the city to prioritize separating its combined sewer systems.