The City of Âé¶čAV has issued a swimming advisory for Rotary Beach.
Although the beach is not closed, advisory signs are posted so that the public can make an informed choice based on the latest beach water quality readings.
A media release from the city says the very young, older adults and people with weakened immunity are the most susceptible to infection related to bacterial counts in the water.
âWhen E. coli reaches 400 units per 100-millilitre sample, itâs expected that one per cent of bathers may develop gastrointestinal (stomach) illness if these bacteria are ingested. Eye, ear and throat symptoms, as well as skin rashes (not swimmerâs itch), can occur more frequently.â
Ed Hoppe, water quality and customer care supervisor, noted there is more plant material in that part of Okanagan Lake, as well as ducks and geese, which can result in higher bacterial counts.
âWe are asking the public not to swim or engage in water-related recreation activities at Rotary Beach until the beach water quality advisory has been lifted,â Hoppe said. âMost people would be fine, but there is that one per cent who could become ill.â
The maximum allowable number of E. coli bacteria in recreational water is 400 per 100-millilitre sample at any one point.
Beach water quality is tested weekly and reported to Interior Health and the results are available on the .
