E. coli Outbreak Shuts Down Vancouver Beaches

By Troy Tyrell | WBN News Vancouver | July 20, 2025
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VANCOUVER, BC – For over 25 years, I’ve refused to swim in Vancouver’s city beaches, and right now, I’m more confident than ever that was the right call.

This week, public health officials shut down swimming at multiple Metro Vancouver beaches due to dangerous E. coli levels. We’re talking about some of the most popular spots in the city, now marked unsafe due to contamination.

🚫 Beaches I’ve Long Avoided Are Now Officially Off-Limits

As someone who’s worked in health and fitness for decades, I pay close attention to what goes into the body, and that includes what it’s submerged in. That’s why I’ve stayed far away from places like:

English Bay
Kitsilano Beach
Second and Third Beaches in Stanley Park
Sunset Beach
Trout Lake
Dundarave and Lions Bay

Vancouver Coastal Health reports E. coli readings that exceed safe limits by 4 to 10 times. These beaches didn’t just creep into dangerous territory; they blasted past the warning thresholds.

🧫 What’s Behind the Dirty Water?

I’ve seen firsthand how Vancouver’s outdated infrastructure and busy marine traffic affect water quality. Here’s what’s contributing to the E. coli mess:

Stormwater overflow: Heavy summer rains overwhelm the city’s combined sewer systems, flushing raw or partially treated sewage into our waters.
Illegal dumping: Even with free mobile pump-out stations, some boaters still empty waste tanks directly into the ocean.
Wildlife and pets: Geese, raccoons, and off-leash dogs add to the bacterial load on beaches, especially where water is still or shallow.
Old pipes, growing city: Our infrastructure wasn’t built for today’s population or weather extremes.

In other words, this isn’t a freak event. It’s the result of systemic issues we’ve known about for years.

🏞️ Why I Only Swim in Indian Arm

Now, I’ll say this: it’s tough to get me into the water, and it’s just as tough to get me out. I love swimming when the water’s clean, refreshing, and safe.

But I absolutely won’t go into the waters of English Bay or around Port Moody. Not a chance.

Growing up, I spent my summers out on the boat with my parents in the 80s. Back then, my biggest fear was getting attacked by some great white named Jaws, not floating in someone’s flushed toilet or catching a bacterial infection. But here we are.

That’s why I’ve stuck with Indian Arm for decades. It’s not just beautiful, it’s constantly flushed with cold, clean water from remote mountain tributaries. That natural circulation helps keep the bacteria at bay, unlike the stagnant, overused waters of city beaches.

There’s no city sewage, no boat waste overload, and very little wildlife contamination compared to urban hotspots.

“I made a decision 25-plus years ago that the only place I’ll swim is Indian Arm or Gulf Islands... and every year this proves to be the right call.”

⚠️ What’s At Stake

Swimming in contaminated water is no joke. High E. coli levels can lead to:

Severe stomach illness
Skin, eye, and ear infections
UTIs
And in rare cases, more serious complications

Kids, seniors, and anyone with a weakened immune system are especially at risk, but honestly, no one should be jumping into this right now.

🛠️ What’s Being Done (and What Still Needs Work)

To the city’s credit, steps that are somewhat being taken:

Real-time testing and alerts via Vancouver Coastal Health
Sewer system upgrades, though they’re slow and expensive
Public pump-out programs for boaters

But let’s be real, until the city invests seriously in modern infrastructure, beach advisories will continue to shut down our shoreline every summer.

💡 My Advice

If you care about your health, here’s what I recommend:

Don’t swim after it rains, the runoff is brutal.
Use the VCH beach reports before heading to the shore.
Stick with naturally flushed waters like Indian Arm or the Gulf Islands.
Rinse off after any swim, and take a proper shower if you are swimming in the quagmire.

📌 Final Thoughts

I’m not just a personal trainer, I’m someone who grew up on these waters and has watched them change. I’ve got a deep love for the ocean, but I also know when it’s better to stay dry.

If you’re still jumping into English Bay right now, I hope your tetanus shots are up to date.

As for me? I’ll be enjoying the clean, cool waters of Indian Arm, or if I can get there, the Gulf Islands. Always have. Always will.

By Troy Tyrell, Founder of Tsquared Personal Training
WBN Contributor | Community Builder | Mountain Biker | Advocate for Clean Water & Fitness
📍 Google Business Profile – Tsquared Personal Training
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#Vancouver Beaches #EColi Alert #Water Pollution #Environmental Health
#Stay Out Of The Water #Troy Tyrell #WBN News Vancouver