More alerts pondered after rash of swimming advisories for Okanagan Lake

Swimmer’s itch is simply a well-known short-term allergic guidance that h2o users whitethorn acquisition aft taking a dip successful a section reservoir aliases river.

However, a caller number of swimming advisories has immoderate Okanagan residents wondering if much signage is needed erstwhile section governments station swimming advisories issued by Interior Health.

A caller sampling from Gellatly Bay Aquatic Park revealed that E. coli germs are 30 times nan safe, acceptable swimming limit.

The sample was taken connected July 2 astatine Rotary Beach.

After Interior Health’s study was done, nan City of West Kelowna put up swimming advisory signs astatine nan park.

In a connection to Global News, nan metropolis said, “If, successful consultation pinch Interior Health, we are informed of reservoir conditions that warrant nary swimming advisories, past we perfectly station notices on-site astatine our adjacent beach.”

Just 300 metres away, though, astatine nan aged wharf that’s portion of Gellatly Bay Aquatic Park, there’s nary signage astatine all.

“The soiled connection is e-coli,” said West Kelowna resident Marilyn Parker. “And it’s a soiled word.”

Parker and her daughter, Lori, opportunity they’re alert of nan caller h2o sampling that’s been done but adhd they’re not excessively worried astir it.

“With nan span of nan reservoir and nan magnitude of water, it’s not apt going to beryllium complete present (at nan aged wharf),” said Lori Parker.

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But not everyone that Global News said to feels that way.

One duo abandoned their plans for a dip erstwhile Global News told them astir nan caller precocious e-coli levels nearby.

Another beachgoer, Robert Bland of West Kelowna, said he wasn’t going to fto his kid spell swimming, “that’s for sure.”

He besides said if nan levels are bad astatine 1 beach, authorities should grow nan warnings to swimmers astatine adjacent locations.

An Interior Health spokesperson told Global News that reservoir users could perchance spot much of this arsenic swimming advisories go much common.

On a bully note, nan City of West Kelowna says nan swimming advisory signs astatine Rotary Beach were removed connected Friday based connected caller h2o trial results from Interior Health.

The wellness agency besides has a webpage dedicated to beach advisories.