Public health officials have assured the public that everything is under control following a sewer main leak near the Olympic Village on Thursday, but the incident has raised concerns about contamination and public health.
The City of Vancouver was able to contain most of the leak that discharged into False Creek, but some areas within Hinge Park were contaminated.
Vancouver Coastal Health Medical Officer Michael Schwandt said those areas have been sealed off and are now being flushed with clean water.
Schwandt said the city needs to consider the amount of sewage that entered the park, the concentration of pathogens and the weather at the time of the incident.
“I'm a little concerned about the park area,” he said.
“In fact, there are children and dogs playing in that area, so it's important to keep them out of the cordoned off area.”
Schwandt said clearing Hinge Park will be a challenge for the city because it was designed as a cool wetland to capture stormwater.
The main risks from contact with sewage include gastrointestinal illnesses such as vomiting and diarrhea.
As for False Creek itself, Schwandt said people are already being advised against swimming there because of the presence of E. coli and other contaminants.
“The threshold for bacterial counts is quite different than for swimming beaches,” he told CityNews.
Schwandt said boating, canoeing and paddleboarding in the area are fine because they don't put bodies in the water.
Testing is currently underway to ensure the waterway does not exceed Health Canada's contamination guidelines.
Health officials say they are closely monitoring the situation.
