False Creek sewage leak may take several days to clear up

Municipal engineers have found the source of contamination that has spiked coliform levels in Vancouver's False Creek, but it may be several days before the water is declared safe.

On Friday, Vancouver Coastal Health issued a warning that the water at the east end of False Creek near Science World was highly contaminated with coliform bacteria.

Samples showed the coliform bacteria levels were almost 15 times the levels deemed safe for swimming. False Creek is not generally used for swimming, but is popular with kayakers and dragon boaters in summer.

Then early Saturday morning city engineers found a plugged sewer in the Chinatown area that had over flown into the storm sewer system that normal drains rainwater into the east end of the creek.

Deputy city engineer Peter Judd said it will be several days before those coliform levels drop back to safe levels.

"If people are going to be kayaking or dragon boating in the creek, they should think carefully about that and probably avoid that area of the creek east of the Cambie Bridge for a number of days until the notices are taken down," Judd said Saturday.

Coliform bacteria comes from fecal matter. People who are splashed by the water should wash thoroughly as soon as they can, or risk suffering skin rashes and irritation, advised staff with the regional health authority, who issued the warning.