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 briefly above the guideline at Lac du Bonnet beach but quickly returned to below the guideline by July 9.
E. coli counts were above the guideline at Ochre Beach (Dauphin Lake) on July 8. Re-samples will be collected early next week.
Algal blooms were observed and sampled at Killarney Lake beach and Pelican Lake beaches (Ninette and Pleasant Valley). The number of blue-green algae cells was above the recreational water quality guidelines for cyanobacteria cell count at Pelican Lake beaches (Ninette and Pleasant Valley), but below the guideline at Killarney Lake beach. However, the concentration of algal toxin, microcystin was below recreational water quality guidelines at all three beaches.
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 provide 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 where algal blooms are present.
Algae advisory signs are posted at Pelican Lake beaches (Ninette and Pleasant Valley).
Swimmer’s itch advisory signs are posted at Moose Lake Provincial Park and Bird’s Hill Provincial Park Beach.
Information on beach water quality results, advisory signs posted at beaches, and swimmer and water safety is available at www.manitoba.ca/beaches.
