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 Gimli Beach (Lake Winnipeg) but quickly returned to below the guideline by Aug. 29.
Elevated levels of bacteria were likely caused by strong north winds and wave action washing bacteria out of the sand and into the water.
This week, algal blooms were reported at Victoria Beach, West Grand Beach Lagoon, Pelican Lake (Ninette and Pleasant Valley), Brereton Lake and Big Whiteshell Lake.
Samples collected this week from the West Grand Beach Lagoon, Brereton Lake (Inverness Falls Beach), Victoria Beach and Big Whiteshell Lake (north shore campground) were above the recreational water quality guideline for blue-green algal cells. The concentration of the algal toxin microcystin was below the recreational water quality guideline at each of these locations.
Algal advisory signs are posted at Killarney Lake beach, Silver Beach Lake, Lake Minnewasta, West Grand Beach Lagoon, Brereton Lake (Inverness Falls Beach), Victoria Beach 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 available online.
