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Testing finds toxic algae at some Manitoba beaches
Blue-green algae washes onto a Lake Winnipeg beach in a 2010 file photo. (LAURIE BAILEY / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES) Photo Store
Water testing this week shows E. coli levels within recreational water quality guidelines at all beaches monitored by safety inspectors.
Algal blooms were reported at a number of beaches over the past week.
A news release from Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship advised people to avoid swimming in water where severe algal blooms are visible and to prevent pets from drinking water along the shoreline.
At Killarney Lake beach and on Pelican Lake (at Ninette and Pleasant Valley beaches), the number of blue-green algal 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 cyanobacteria toxins have been observed and drinking, swimming or other contact with the water is not recommended.
At Hillside Beach on Lake Winnipeg, the number of blue-green algae cells was above the recreational-water-quality guideline on Aug. 7. The concentration of the algal toxin microcystin was below the recreational-water-quality guideline.
Algal blooms were also reported at Big Whiteshell Lake and on the Lee River but the number of blue-green algal cells and the concentration of the microcystin was below the recreational-water-quality guideline.
Algal blooms were also reported at West Grand Beach and at Hillside Beach on Lake Winnipeg, and at Sandy Lake beach. Water samples were collected today and results will be available over the weekend.
Algae advisory signs are posted on Lake Winnipeg at Hillside, Victoria (Red Cross Dock) and West Grand beaches and at the lagoon at West Grand Beach.
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.
Information on results of beach water-quality testing, advisory signs posted at beaches, and swimmer and water safety is available at www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/waterstewardship/quality/beaches.html .
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