Posted on 06/20/2009, 10:16 am, by mySteinbach

Manitoba Water Stewardship advises that, while water temperatures still remain cool for swimming, testing of beaches has begun for the 2009 season. Testing has shown that levels of Escherichia coli (E. coli) were within recreational water quality guidelines at all beaches monitored by the department this week.
 
Blue-green algae have not been reported at Manitoba beaches. The formation of algae blooms is difficult to predict.  Warm and calm weather coupled with relatively high nutrient loads presents ideal conditions for their development.  Algae blooms often appear in Manitoba Lakes during July and can last until mid-September.  Since algae blooms can reoccur during periods of warm and calm weather, bathers are reminded to avoid swimming in water where severe algae blooms are visible.
 
Results for all beaches across Manitoba are posted as they become available on Manitoba Water Stewardship’s website.  
 
Each summer, Manitoba Water Stewardship routinely monitors about 60 beaches in Manitoba.