Sayward Beach

BEACH INFO:
Sayward Beach is reported to be rather isolated. Heading north from Victoria, take Cordova Bay Road and turn east onto Fenn Avenue, then left onto Parker Avenue. Park about 1km down at Parker Park. Descend the stairs and walk to the left for about 1km until the houses end. You may need to cross streams along some log bridges. The beach is near a rocky outcropping.

This site is sampled monthly from May to September.

Get directions to this beach

COVID-19

Keep your distance from other people.

Practicing social distancing is essential right now. Follow the advice of the health experts. If your community has asked that you remain indoors and away from others, do so. Heading to the beach should only be considered an option if social distancing practices can be followed. Spending a day in any crowded place is the worst thing we can do for our most vulnerable right now and will counter the efforts to curb the virus’ spread.

For more information, please visit the World Health Organization public resource on COVID-19.

Water Quality

Passed water quality tests at least 95% of the time
Historical Status
This status is based on the latest sample, taken on June 3th, 2020. The Swim Guide updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on June 12th, 2020 at 3:14 PM.

For water quality icon legend, click:

Current Weather

17°C

Mostly clear

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Monitoring Frequency

Source Information

Approximately 100 beaches are monitored by Island Health (Vancouver Island Health Authority). Island Health is split into three service delivery areas: North (20 beaches), Central (39 beaches), and South (40 beaches). Sampling is conducted from the beginning of May until Labour Day (September 4th, 2017).

Island Health follows the Canadian Recreational Water Guidelines.
E. Coli Guidelines

200 E. coli / 100 mL – geometric mean (usually 5 samples)

400 E. coli / 100 mL – single sample maximum

Beaches are automatically posted when a sample result exceeds 1000 E. coli / 100 mL.

Island Health states that consideration is given to posting a beach advisory when the geometric mean exceeds 200 E. coli / 100 mL or a single results exceeds 400 E. coli / 100 mL. However, posting a beach advisory when samples exceed the geomean and/or single sample maximums are not automatic, and depend on the circumstances.

Enterococci Guidelines

35 enterococci / 100 mL – geometric mean at least 5 samples

70 enterococci / 100 mL – single sample maximum

Beaches are automatically posted when a sample result exceeds 175 Enterococci/ 100 mL.

Consideration is given to posting a beach advisory when the geometric mean exceeds 35 Enterococci / 100 mL or a single results exceeds 70 Enterococci / 100 mL.

Beach advisories will be automatically posted when a sample result of over 1000 E. coli or 175 Enterococci per sample is received, as studies indicate there is an elevated risk associated with these bacterial levels.

Water Quality Graph