It's getting harder to find a safe place to swim in the West Kootenay. First a fuel spill at Lemon Creek put the Slocan and Kootenay rivers off limits. Now the Regional District of Central Kootenay is telling people not to swim at the Taghum Beach due to poor water quality.
Tests have found bacterial counts that exceed Health Canada guidelines.
The regional district collects water samples from the beach weekly and analyzes them for fecal coliform bacteria. Swimming in water with unacceptable bacteria levels can increase the risk of ear, nose and throat infection or stomach illness.
Signs have been posted on the beach. Similar advisories were issued in 2010 and 2012 and lasted a week or two.
The beach is downstream of the City of Nelson’s sewage treatment plant, but the regional district has previously stated it can’t verify any link.
The regional district recently announced it has purchased land to expand the beach.