Posted:
Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016 (Halifax, NS) – The Halifax Regional Municipality is advising residents that Kinsmen Beach at First Lake, Lower Sackville, has reopened to swimming, and Birch Cove Beach at Lake Banook, Dartmouth, has closed to swimming until further notice due to high bacteria levels in the water.
Beach supervisors test the water quality weekly at all supervised municipal beaches during the summer months. Kinsmen Beach had been closed due to higher than recommended bacteria levels, however follow up results show the water is once again safe for swimming, as per Health Canada guidelines.
Recent test results at Birch Cove Beach indicate bacteria levels exceed Health Canada guidelines for recreational use.
High bacteria levels can be caused by a number of naturally occurring factors, including weather conditions and waterfowl. Staff will continue testing the water at the beach until bacteria levels return to normal. The municipality will advise residents when the beach reopens.
For more information on supervised municipal beaches and outdoor pools across the Halifax region, please visit http://www.halifax.ca/rec/Aquatics/Beaches.php.
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