Manitoba Water Stewardship advises testing has shown that levels of Escherichia coli (E. coli) were within recreational water quality guidelines at all beaches monitored this week by the department.
Algal samples collected from Killarney Lake on Aug. 31 indicated the number of blue-green algae cells was above the proposed recreational water quality guideline of 100,000 cells per ml. The beach was posted with an algae advisory on July 24. The concentration of the algal toxin microcystin-LR was below the guideline.
An algal bloom was also sampled on Lake Wahtopanah (Rivers Reservoir) on Sept. 1. However, the number of blue-green algae cells was below the recreational water quality guideline of 100,000 cells per ml. The concentration of the algal toxin microcystin-LR was also below the guideline. Due to an algal bloom that appeared earlier this summer, the beach at Lake Wahtopanah was posted with an algae advisory on Aug. 14.
An algae bloom was reported on Little Jackfish Lake on Sept. 4. The lake is being sampled today and results will be available early next week.
Algae blooms often appear in Manitoba lakes at this time of the year and can last until mid September. The formation of algae blooms is difficult to predict, however, warm and calm weather coupled with relatively high nutrient loads create ideal conditions for their development. Swimmers are reminded to avoid swimming in water if severe algae blooms are visible.
Each summer, Manitoba Water Stewardship routinely monitors about 60 beaches in Manitoba. Results for all beaches across Manitoba are posted as they become available on the department’s website.
