Environmental Health and Safety Survey for Brokers' Bay recreational water quality monitoring program, Vancouver 2019. Swim Drink Fish recreational water quality monitoring hub.

1.
Recreational swimming area Environmental Health and Safety Survey (EHSS)
checklist ​(Brokers’ Bay)
Identification
Site Name:​ Brokers’ Bay
Address: ​ 1450 Creekside Dr, Vancouver, BC V6J 5B3 (Building)
Responsible Authority: ​Vancouver monitoring hub - Swim Drink Fish ​Telephone: ​604.674.7444
E-mail:​ ​katie@swimdrinkfish.ca
Person(s) Conducting Survey:​ Katie Moore
Date:​ May 29, 2019 ​Time: ​ 14:45
Background Information
Water Body Type: Marine/ Harbour
Dimensions of Site: Length (m): 223 m Width (m): 248 m
Perimeter: 870 m Area: 4.83 ha
Number of Sampling Sites: 5
Water Temperature High: 24°C Water Temperature Low: 6.5°C
Average Air Temp: 11.8°C
Prevailing Winds Direction: ESE Avg. Speed: 6 km/h
Figure 1. Brokers’ Bay location outlined in green with sampling sites shown in yellow.
Adapted from the Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality: Third Edition
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2.
Figure 2. Monthly mean temperature and mean precipitation for 2018 from Vancouver Harbour
CS weather station (​Government of Canada​, 2019).
Figure 3: Yearly wind direction. Data collected from the False Creek Fuel station and published
on ​Windfinder.
Prevailing Winds Direction: ESE Avg. Speed (km/h): 6
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3. Prevailing Currents Direction: Tide dependent Avg. Speed (km/h): Tide dependent
Precipitation Data for 2018
Rainfall Total (mm) in 2018: 1721.3
24-h High (mm): 77.5 (December 13)
Figure 4. Total precipitation (mm) per month in 2018 from Vancouver Harbour CS weather station
(​Government of Canada​, 2019).
Surrounding Land Uses:
● Urban ✓
● Residential ✓
● Commercial (specify): commercial fishery ✓
● Harbour ✓
● Recreational ✓
Brokers’ Bay and the surrounding land is located on the traditional unceded territories of the
Coast Salish People including the Tsleil-Waututh (səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ), Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh
Úxwumixw) and Musqueam (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm) Nations.
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4. False Creek was historically a much larger tidal flat area up until 1913 when the eastern half of the
flats were filled in to make Vancouver’s main railway station, now known as Pacific Central. After
the railway station was built and up until the 1950's, False Creek was the industrial heartland of
Vancouver. The land surrounding False Creek has now been highly urbanized with commercial
and residential buildings. Vancouver Coastal Health has classified False Creek as not suitable for
swimming (primary contact with water) and advises only secondary contact recreation activities
“that result in regular wetting of limbs, but swallowing of water is unusual” be permitted in False
Creek (ie. canoeing, kayaking, sailing, fishing) (​VCH​, 2019).
Granville Island was built for industrial purposes in the early 1900s, it used to be called Industrial
Island. Several factories were established mainly serving the mining and forestry industries.
During World War II, Wright’s Canadian Ropes on the island was Canada’s biggest manufacturer
of heavy-duty wire rope. The government later invested millions to make the island a recreational
area of the city (1970s). Until then, Granville Island did not have any green space. The Island’s
public market was established in 1979.
Brokers’ Bay is located at the South Western side of Granville Island between Foreshore walk
and the Fisherman’s Wharf, owned by False Creek Harbour Authority.
The commercial buildings and spaces nearby include the following:
● False Creek Harbour Authority (commercial fishing boats and pleasure crafts)
● Maritime Market & Marina Ltd
● Granville Island Public Market
● Boat Yard
● Tony’s Fish and Oyster Cafe
● Vancouver Theatre Sport League
● Fraser Yacht Sales
● Blue Pacific Yacht Charters
● Cooper Boating
● Bluewater Rigging
● Wilson Boating
● Vancouver Water Adventures
● Ecomarine Paddlesport Center
● Specialty Yacht Sales
● Skookum Yacht Services
● Bridges Restaurant
● Go Fish Restaurant
● Seawall with biking and walking paths
● Vancouver Fish Company
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5. A. Microbiological Hazards Assessment
Potential Sources of Faecal Contamination
● Stagnant water ✓
● Municipal Sewage Discharges ✓
● Stormwater Drains/Discharges ✓
● Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) ✓
● Other Discharges of Faecal Wastes (List): ✓
○ Boat discharges
Stormwater Runoff from:
● Runoff from surrounding area i.e., roads, walkways, and other impermeable
surfaces ​✓
● Boat yards ​ ✓
Other Environmental Sources:
Environmental Sources Category (None, Low, Med, High)
Birds (e.g., gulls, ducks, geese, other) Medium
Other wild animals: Fish/ seals/cetaceans High
Pets Low
Swimmers None
Table 1. Summary table of wildlife for Brokers’ Bay 2018 sampling season (July 19-
December 27).
Wildlife Count
Cormorant 17
Seagull 67
Duck 15
Crow 22
Seal 9
Swallow 2
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6. Heron 2
Dead Cormorant 1
Table 2. ​Summary table of people recreating for Brokers’ Bay 2018 sampling season
(July 19- December 27).
People Count
Zodiak 3
Rowing Boat 6
Kayak 5
Standup Paddle Board 8
Motor Boats 2
Sea-doo 2
Paddler 5
Items for Consideration during the Microbiological Hazards Risk Assessment:
● Proximity of potential contamination sources to the swimming area.
The potential area where individuals might swim or fall in the water is relatively close to the CSO
located on the north side of Granville Island, next to the ferry dock location. It is also in close
proximity to boats anchored in the marina.
● Potential for contamination sources to have an impact on the swimming area (including an
indication of their risk priority: Low, Medium, High).
Due to the presence of a CSO into this part of False Creek and all the boats anchored in the
marina, there is a ​high​ potential for the swimming area to be impacted by contamination sources.
● Evaluation of water quality according to historical microbiological data (e.g., frequency of
exceedances of the guideline values for the recommended indicators of faecal
contamination [e.g., continuous/periodic/sporadic]).
According the sampling completed by Fraser Riverkeeper from 24 sample events (July 13-
December 27th) in 2018, Brokers’ Bay passed the Canadian Guidelines for Recreational Water
Quality 52% of the time and failed the standards 40% of the time.
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7. Table 3. Fraser Riverkeeper 2018 sampling results for Brokers’ Bay taken from Swim Guide.
Year # of Sample Events Pass Fail
2018 25 92% 8%
● Discharges: Assessment of such factors as volume, flow rate, treatment type, applicable
indicator standards, periodicity (continuous, sporadic) and predictability.
The discharges into the Brokers Bay site could include untreated sewage from the CSO located
on the north side of Granville Island, along with other wastewater, and stormwater runoff.
According to the Effluent Regulatory Reporting Information System (ERRIS) and the Wastewater
Systems Effluent Regulations (WSER), 75,600 m3 of raw effluent were deposited via the Granville
CSO point in 2017 (45,200 m3 in 2016 and 99,500 m3 in 2015).
● Effects of rainfall: Levels triggering contamination events and typical event duration.
CSOs in Vancouver flow more frequently in the winter months (October through April) when there
are significant storm events that result in higher risk of contamination to the water body.
● Assessment of swimming area circulation: Effect of onshore winds, tides, currents, flow
patterns in transporting faecal contamination to and entrapping it within the swimming
area.
Brokers’ Bay is a sheltered area, with slow moving surface currents. Entrapping of faecal
contamination is at a high risk considering the area is densely populated with boats and the flow
is tide dependent.
● Animals and birds: Assessment of their types, numbers and dropping​s.
Environmental surveys from 2018 documented 73 animals in total: mostly birds but also a few
seals. Due to insufficient information concerning the link between wildlife and water
contamination, the impact the birds and animals have on the water quality is unknown.
● Impact of swimmers on water quality—numbers, ages.
No swimmers have been observed in the water. However, Brokers’ Bay is the launching area of
several water recreational rentals companies. 19 kayaks, SUP etc. leaving or returning from the
Bay were observed on Thursday mornings from July to December 2018.
● Assessment of potential barriers: Barrier types and points at which they may be applied to
reduce the impact of the contamination source and/or swimmer exposure.
The presence of the Granville Island’s CSO as well as possible boat discharges in the marina are
to be considered as a potential source of contamination. Solutions include the implementation of
decentralized urban best management practices (BMP) for stormwater control which include:
● Infiltration practices;
● Pocket wetlands;
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8. ● Porous pavement;
● Rain barrels/cisterns;
● Rain gardens;
● Soil amendments;
● Tree box filters;
● Vegetated (green) roofs;
● Vegetated swales;
● Pump out stations
This helps reduce the stormwater volume and improves stormwater quality, thus reducing the
likelihood of CSOs releasing into the site and also improving the water quality of the potential
discharges.
B. Chemical Hazards:
As is the rest of False Creek, Brokers’ Bay was formerly an industrial hub. The potential exists for
chemical contamination from historic industrial waste that might remain in the area. However,
more research and sediments testing are required to confirm this factor.
Potential Sources of Chemical Contamination:
Commercial/Industrial Discharges: high potential
● Marinas ✓
● Motorized Watercraft ✓
Stormwater Runoff From:
● Urban Areas ✓
● Areas subject to Pesticide Application: yes
● Areas subject to Fertilizer Application: yes
Items for Consideration during the Chemical Hazards Risk Assessment:
● Proximity of potential contamination sources to the bathing area.
Motorized and non motorized vessels dock in the bay. Even though this is not a bathing area,
there are several paddling and kayaking companies on Granville Island offering rentals, most
notably Ecomarine and Vancouver Adventure Sports. This makes Brokers’ Bay a very popular site
for recreational water activities.
● Potential for contamination sources to have an impact on the swimming area
(including an indication of their risk priority: Low, Medium, High).
The potential for contamination sources to have an impact on the swimming area is ​high​.
● Discharges: Assessment of such factors as volume, flow rate, treatment type,
periodicity (continuous, sporadic) and predictability.
The impacts that the motorized boats have are unknown. No research exists assessing factors
such as volume, flow rate, treatment type, periodicity, and predictability.
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9. ● Effects of rainfall: Levels triggering contamination events and typical event duration.
Due to Brokers Bay’s proximity to parking lots on Granville Island, and roadways, the impacts of
rainfall and the subsequent runoff is high. The levels required to trigger a contamination event is
unknown, as well as the typical event duration. Swimmers are advised to remain out of the water
for 24hrs after a rainfall event.
● Assessment of swimming area circulation: Effect of onshore winds, tides, currents,
flow patterns in potentially transporting chemical contamination to and entrapping it
within the swimming area.
Brokers’ Bay is a sheltered area, with slow moving surface currents. Entrapping of faecal
contamination is at a high risk considering the area is densely populated with boats and the flow
is tide dependent.
False Creek is saltwater and thus influenced by marine tides. Vancouver experiences mixed
semidiurnal tides which means there are two high and two low tides with different sizes each
lunar day. The tides are also affected by Spring tides which occur about twice a month at new
moon and full moon which are higher and stronger tides and neap tides during first and last
quarter of the moon which are lower and weaker tides. The flushing rate of the tides in False
Creek is not only affected by daily high and low tides but the cycle of the tides in the monthly
lunar cycle.
● Motorized watercraft: Assessment of their types and numbers.
The two marinas located in Brokers’ Bay, the False Creek Harbour Authority and Maritime Market
& Marina Ltd, both hold a large variety of both motorized and non-motorized boats. Fisherman’s
Wharf also houses multiple commercial fishing vessels. Exact numbers are unknown.
● Assessment of potential barriers: Barrier types and points at which they may be
applied to reduce impact of the contamination source and/or swimmer exposure.
Refer to barriers and techniques mentioned in the microbiological hazards assessment section.
C. Other Biological Hazards
Other Biological Hazards Known to Affect the Recreational Water Area (Presence may be
continuous, seasonal or sporadic.)
● Cyanobacterial Blooms - unknown
● Schistosomes (Swimmer’s Itch) unknown
● Large Numbers of Aquatic Plants: limited
Items for Consideration during the Biological Hazards Risk Assessment:
● Seasonal nature of the hazard: continuous, annual, sporadic.
Additional research is required to assess the seasonal nature of biological hazards.
● Presence of contributing factors (as applicable): water conditions, local geography,
temperatures, nutrient levels, presence of appropriate host species.
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10. Additional research is required to assess the presence of contributing factors of biological
hazards in the site.
● Assessment of potential barriers to control hazard and/or reduce human exposure in
areas/during times of increased risk.
Until the biological hazards are assessed, an assessment of potential barriers to control the
hazard is not feasible.
D. Physical Hazards and Aesthetic Considerations
Subsurface Hazards:
Steep Slopes or Dropoffs ✓
Depths greater than 4.5 m ✓
Water Conditions:
Strong Currents or Rip Tides - no
Undertows - no
Other: (Select from None Low Med High)
Litter on Beach ✓ Medium
Floating Debris ✓ Medium
Broken Glass or Other Sharp Objects ✓ Low
Medical Wastes ✓ None
Sewage waste ✓ None
Seaweed/Algae on Beach ✓ Medium
Microplastics ✓ Medium potential
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11.
Figure 5. Litter counted during the sampling events from July 19 to December 27, 2018 at
Brokers’ Bay.
Vehicles Permitted on Beach or Near Bathing Area:
Automobiles - ✓
Boats/Watercraft ✓ Specify: Cruise ships, restaurant boats, party boats, sea-doos, personal boats,
commercial boats, canoes, kayaks.
Items for Consideration during the Resulting Risk Assessment:
● Assessment of the physical characteristics of the beach and their potential impacts on
safe enjoyable use of the area. Includes evaluation of physical layout (geography,
topography), composition of shoreline and bottom material, influence of existing
structures.
The shoreline area is a paved area. The water level at Brokers’ Bay is 1 to 2 m below the
shoreline (depending on the tide). There is an access to the water via the dock. The depth of the
water is > 5 m, and the bottom material is likely accumulated sediments, aquatic plants, and
possible contaminants from the industrial era.
● Assessment of potential risks posed by specific hazards/factors in causing injury or
illness or otherwise interfering with the enjoyable use of the area.
The drop off from the shoreline into the water at low tide can represent potential risks to the
public using the space. There is no beach for people to access the water easily.
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12. ● Shoreline and water free from obstructions and of sufficient clarity to permit viewing of
persons who may be in distress.
The shorelines and water are obstructed in all parts of the site because of the dense presence of
boats, easily hiding a person in distress.
● Assessment of the nature and origin of litter and floating debris.
The litter at Brokers’ Bay most likely comes from the streets and the variety restaurants located
around the public market. During the summer months, it is common to see people eating outside
by the water, on the picnic tables or on the waterfront benches. A large quantity of the litter
observed was food related.
● Applicable physical and aesthetic parameters (pH, temperature, turbidity, colour,
clarity, litter) in agreement with recommendations given in the Guidelines for Canadian
Recreational Water Quality.
Physical parameters was not consistently recorded during the 2018 sampling events.
Temperature and water clarity were recorded consistently using a thermometer and Secchi disk,
however the other parameters are based on subjective observations. Tidal data was not
collected, which would have an effect the Secchi depth measurements.
Table 4. Physical parameters ​for Brokers’ Bay 2018 sampling season (July 19- December
27).
Parameter Observations
Temperature (°C) Min: 6.5 Max: 24 Average: 13.8
Turbidity Unknown
Colour Average colour: dark green
Clarity (m) Average visibility observed with the Secchi disk: 3.4 m
Odour Sometimes sewage or fishy odour in the summertime, at low tide
Litter Medium presence
● Assessment of potential barriers to control hazard and/or reduce human exposure in
areas/during times of increased risk.
Refer to barriers and techniques mentioned in the microbiological hazards assessment section.
E. Facilities and Safety Provisions
Facilities​:
Toilets #: 4 (West side of Granville Island); 4 (Fisherman’s Wharf)
Showers #: 2 (Fisherman’s Wharf)
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13. Drinking Water Fountains #: 2 (West side of Granville Island)
Litter Bins #: 4
Access for Persons with Disabilities: yes
Safety Provisions:
Lifeguard Stations #: 0 Lifesaving Equipment #: 0
Emergency Telephone #: 0 First Aid Stations #: 0
Signs/Communication Materials:
Beach Posting/Suitability for Swimming - no
Emergency Contact Information - Yes (Fisherman’s Wharf)
Formal Procedures or Reporting Mechanisms in Place to Deal with:
Municipal or Industrial Spills/Discharges/Treatment Bypasses - yes (Fisherman’s Wharf)
Waterborne Disease Outbreaks - no
Swimmer Injuries - no
Items for Consideration during the Resulting Risk Assessment:
● Assessment of the adequacy of facilities and safety provisions.
The facilities in the area are limited, as there is no official place to swim.
● Evaluation of signs and other materials for public communication: Message clear and
concise, signs placed in locations highly visible to the public.
No signs are posted pertaining to swimming advisories.
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