Cap Saint-Jacques beach closed due to poor water quality

The large beach at Cap Saint-Jacques in Montreal’s West Island is temporarily closed because the water is polluted.

The Quebec Environment Ministry cited “high bacteriological contamination” in the water following an inspection on Monday.

Officials believe high levels of rain in the area caused the pollution, possibly washing animal waste into the water.

Pierrefonds-Roxboro mayor Jim Beis confirmed that fecal coliform is the suspected bacterium causing the contamination.

“We learned from the city’s parks department that the beach was closed due to the high levels of fecal coliform,” said Beis.

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“[It’s] probably due to the large amount of rain that we received in the last couple of days.”

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Fecal coliform is a bacterium that lives in the digestive tracts of warm-blooded animals and is excreted in feces.

In June 2015, Cap Saint Jacques was closed due to another fecal contamination.

The smaller beach at Cap Saint-Jacques showed good water quality levels and remains open to the public.

The ministry advises boaters to also avoid swimming in the water.

Results of the water tests are expected to be known on Thursday.