WATCH ABOVE: Halifax has closed another beach because of high bacteria levels. Although the city says it’s business as usual, the latest closure has many beach goers upset. Global’s Dave Squires reports.
HALIFAX – Birch Cove Beach is the latest municipal beach to be closed due to high bacteria levels in the water. There have been eight so far this summer.
Officials from the city said that’s not unusual.
“It’s about the same as last season and it’s still fairly early so I expect to see more,” said Halifax spokesperson Jennifer Stairs.
Black Rock Beach and Dingle Beach are also currently closed for the same reason. The city said the higher levels of bacteria often occur after a lot of rainfall or by ducks and geese and other animals on the beach and it could a few days or a week for the water to go back to safe levels.
Exposure to high levels of bacteria can lead to infections like gastroenteritis. Officials said since some people don’t heed the warnings lifeguards will continue to be posted at the closed beaches.
Shannon Frazier was hoping to take her kids to Birch Cove Beach, but had to go somewhere else.
“It’s disappointing. I have two kids in the back seat waiting to head to the beach. But we can head to the ocean and no bacteria problems there,” said Frazier.
Other beach goers have also expressed disappointment in the many beach closures.
“It’s unfortunate because beautiful days like this you won’t be able to take kids to the beach and get cold, and it’s just not fun,” said Marissa Beaver.
“I said ‘what’s going on the beach is empty,’ and I thought yeah, bacteria levels. You got to do it. It’s a safety measure,” said Ray Slaunwhite.
Regular weekly testing is done on the 23 own and operate city beaches.
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