Water testing this week has shown that levels of Escherichia coli (E. coli) were within recreational water quality guidelines at most beaches monitored by Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship.
E. coli counts were above the guideline on Lake Winnipeg at Winnipeg Beach and Matlock Beach on Sept. 3 but quickly returned to below the guideline by Sept. 5.
Elevated levels of bacteria were likely caused by strong north winds and wave action washing bacteria out of the sand and into the water.
Algal blooms were reported this week at West Grand Beach on Lake Winnipeg. The number of blue green algal cells was above the recreational water quality guideline at West Grand Beach (main beach) and West Grand Beach (lagoon). The concentration of the algal toxin microcystin was below the recreational water quality guideline at each of these locations.
Algal advisory signs will remain posted at Killarney Lake beach, Silver Beach Lake, Lake Minnewasta near Morden, West Grand Beach (main beach), West Grand Beach (lagoon), Brereton Lake (Inverness Falls Beach), Victoria Beach (Connaught Road) and Big Whiteshell Lake (north shore campground).
Algal toxin advisory signs remain posted at Ninette and Pleasant Valley on Pelican Lake. Drinking, swimming or other contact with the water is not recommended. Additional samples will be collected next week.
Algal blooms are difficult to predict and may form and then disperse quickly, or last for several days or weeks. Warm and calm weather coupled with relatively high nutrient loads provides ideal conditions for blue-green algae to develop.
People are reminded to avoid swimming in water where severe algal blooms are visible and to prevent pets from drinking water along the shoreline.
Up-to-date information on advisory signs posted at beaches is available online.
Swimmer’s itch advisory signs will remain posted for the summer at Moose Lake Provincial Park, Winnipeg Beach (Lake Winnipeg), Whytewold Beach (Lake Winnipeg) and Gull Lake.
Information on results of beach water quality testing, and swimmer and water safety is also available online.
