Swimmers are being warned of unsanitary water conditions at six beaches in Greater Victoria and Langford, according to Island Health.
Last week, the health authority issued water advisories for four beaches due to high bacteria levels, including Coles Bay Beach in North Saanich, Ross Bay Beach in Victoria, Kinsmen Beach in Esquimalt, and Saanich Inlet in Brentwood Bay.
This week, Island Health added two more advisories to its list: Langford Lake off Ed Nixon Lane, and Hamsterly West in Saanich’s Elk Lake.
On June 5, Island Health said there was a potentially unsafe amount of E.Coli in the water at Langford Lake off Ed Nixon Lane, and on June 7 the health authority said a similar issue was present at Hamsterly West beach at Elk Lake.
Between Mid-May and September, Island Health monitors beach water quality by taking samples throughout the swimming season.
“Indicator bacteria are used to identify the presence of fecal contamination and provides an indication of potential risks associated with swimming or other recreational water activities in that location,” reads the Island Health webpage on beach advisories.
Island Health says local governments will place beach advisory notices at any beach that has tested positive for unsafe water.
With files from CHEK’s Ethan Morneau
Adam Chan
