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Explore and enjoy your favourite beaches with The Swim Guide, a new smart phone app created by Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, which now includes BC beach data and water quality information developed by Fraser Riverkeeper. The Swim Guide makes it easy to find beaches in British Columbia, Ontario, and other soon-to-be-announced areas across North America’s Waterkeeper Alliance jurisdictions.
Also available from Fraser Riverkeeper is our website’s interactive map and Swim Drink Fish FAQ.
Note: If you see a lot of “gray” beaches, it signifies that those beaches are either not tested or that they are tested, but the public health authority does not provide the sampling results in a public, easily accessible place. We are working with some health authorities (such as the Interior Public Health Authority) to provide this information in the future. We are also working on mapping northern BC beaches, though none of them are regularly tested for coliforms.
You can list the beaches closest to you, browse the map, or search for a beach by name. Every beach is colour-coded (Green, Yellow, Red) so you know when a beach is safe for swimming and when it is not safe. A Gray coding designates beaches with no data or beaches that may be officially safe but with unreliable data. Our data is derived from Health Authority sampling done across the province during the summer months; this data sampling is based on coliform testing and sometimes other risks, such as oil spills. Note that the health authorities test high bather-load beaches, but may go out and test other beaches if a threat is observed. Generally, beach owners and provincial parks may do their own testing. We are relying on beach data made known publicly through online reporting.
While some coliforms are found naturally in water, elevated amounts may indicate other problems that can lead to health risks. Fecal coliforms are a type of bacteria (E. Coli) that may originate from animal or human feces. Sources include agricultural and stormwater runoff as well as untreated human sewage and animal waste (dogs, geese, seagulls, ducks, bears, etc.) and pulp mill effluent. During high rainfall periods, sewer systems can become overloaded and over flow (combined sewer outfalls), bypassing treatment. Fecal coliforms can have effects on human health, causing a greater chance of ear infections, Hepatitis A, and viral and bacterial gastroenteritis.
Fraser Riverkeeper includes many more beaches than those being sampled by Health Authorities; they generally sample beaches with high swimming populations. But we wanted to give BC beach-goers a great fingertip reference to basic information about BC beaches. Use the app to find out whether it’s safe to swim at a certain beach, and if no data is available, at least find out more information on that beach you want to visit today.
The Swim Guide gives you original descriptions with photographs (when available) of hundreds of different beaches in the lower mainland, Sunshine Coast, Islands, Kootenay, Cariboo, Thompson-Nicola, Okanagan, and other Canadian areas. By the summer of 2013, look for additional beaches in these regions as well as the northern beaches in the Omineca, Skeena, and Peace zones. The northern beaches are not tested for coliforms regularly. The Guide offers more than just beach and water quality information. There’s a little history, geography and culture, too!
The Swim Guide integrates with the maps app, so you can get walking, transit, or driving directions to the beach of your choice. It also connects to Twitter, Facebook, email, and SMS text messaging. Share your favourite beaches with your friends. Send them directions so they can join you!
The Swim Guide helps you report any pollution problems or environmental concerns that you may spot when you are at the beach. Use the Report button to notify us, and we will help you protect your favourite beach.
We wish to thank our sponsor, Royal Bank of Canada.
