Bacteria has forced the closure of a metro swimming area.

Kinsmen's Beach on First Lake in Lower Sackville was closed Wednesday due to poor water quality.

Regular testing by Halifax Regional Municipality at the city-supervised beach showed high bacteria levels in the water.

"It's coliform," John Henry, manager of HRM's aquatic services, said.

"It can make people sick with flu-like symptoms."

He wasn't sure when the beach would reopen but said testing would continue.

In past years, many of HRM's supervised lakes have been closed in August because of high bacteria counts. The problem was usually caused by lower water levels in the warmer weather, city spokesman John O'Brien said.

So far this year, only one other lake - Springfield Lake in Upper Sackville - has been closed to swimming, also due to bacteria.

That swimming area reopened Tuesday, Mr. O'Brien said.

Signs have been posted at the Kinsmen's Beach, and lifeguards will remain on duty during normal hours to keep people out of the water.