Water testing this week has shown that levels of Escherichia coli (E. coli) were within recreational water quality guidelines at all beaches monitored by Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship.
Algal blooms were reported on Killarney and Pelican lakes this past week.
At Killarney Lake beach and at Pelican Lake (Ninette and Pleasant Valley beaches), the number of blue-green algae cells and the concentration of the algal toxin microcystin were above the recreational water quality guideline.
A toxic algae advisory has been posted at all three beaches to let swimmers know that cyanobacteria toxins have been observed and that drinking, swimming or other contact with the water is not recommended.
All three beaches are being re-sampled today and results will be available on the Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship website on Monday.
Information on beaches where advisory signs are posted is available at the department website. It will be updated as soon as additional sample results are available.
On Lake Winnipeg, algae advisory signs are posted at Hillside, Victoria (Red Cross Dock) and West Grand beaches and at the lagoon at West Grand Beach.
Algae 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 algae blooms are visible and to prevent pets from drinking water along the shoreline.
Information on results of beach water quality testing, advisory signs posted at beaches, and swimmer and water safety is available online.
