False Creek water could make people sick: health official

Vancouver Coastal Health has issued a warning that the water at the east end of False Creek are highly contaminated with coliform bacteria.

People should avoid the area east of the Cambie Bridge where the tides don't flush away waste as much, said Domenic Losito, regional director of health protection with Vancouver Coastal Health.

False Creek is not generally used for swimming but is popular with kayakers and dragon boaters in summer.

Losito said people who are splashed by the water should clean up as soon as they can.

"Wash yourself off with clean water. Have a good shower after you get out of the creek. Don't use your hands and do a lot of hand-to-mouth activity until you get your hands washed," Losito said Friday.

Health officials have noticed raw sewage flowing into the eastern edge of the creek, Losito said.

Samples collected and examined show the coliform bacteria levels are almost 15 times the levels deemed safe for swimming.

Coliform bacteria are born out of fecal matter. People who become contaminated could experience skin rashes and irritation.

"I'm thinking there's some type of sewage work that's been done where something wasn't quite tightened up and you've got some raw sewage leaking into the creek either directly or from cross-connection," Losito said.

The City of Vancouver and Vancouver Coastal Health are trying to find the source of the outbreak.