OAKFIELD: Oakfield Park’s first beach closure of the season came late last week after bacteria counts were found to be unsafe.

A higher than normal reading of E. coli bacteria was measured at the beach during a routine check. The water is tested once a week regardless of weather, and, after a higher than normal reading of the bacteria, Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) will continue to test levels every 24-48 hours until it’s safe for people to swim.

“Once the lab gives us the go-ahead, we re-open,” said HRM aquatics specialist, Rhonda Dea.

Dea said the bacteria readings can be caused by weather conditions, often during heat waves or times of heavy rainfall.

“It’s just a precautionary thing,” she said, “it’s something we’ve always done.”

Cameron Deacoff, environmental performance officer for HRM, said the bacteria comes from fecal matter and could partially come from sewage seeping into lakes from septic tanks sewage pipes.

“Theoretically, it could be (from sewage),” he said. “E. coli is a type of bacteria that’s found exclusively in the guts of warm blooded animals, so that includes us, ducks, dogs, and an number of species of wildlife that live in or visit the surrounding watershed areas.”

He said the reason higher e-coli readings are measured after a heavy rainfall is because the runoff from the surrounding surface area and groundwater drains into the lake. The remnants of animal droppings go along with it.

Oakfield Beach had few closures last summer, and Deacoff said beach-goers should heed warnings.

“I don’t think people should be worried,” he said. “This is something that happens all the time and there’s no change in the trend. Lakes sometimes have higher and sometimes have lower levels. We encourage people to follow the advice of the beach program.”

Swimming in E. coli contaminated waters can lead to diarrhea, urinary tract infections, and other gastrointestinal problems.

For more information, dial 490-5458, or visit www.halifax.ca/rec/beaches.html, to check the status of beach closures.

acano@enfieldweeklypress.com