Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 08/10/2012 5:45 PM | Comments: (including replies)

LAURIE BAILEY / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES Enlarge Image

Blue-green algae washes onto a Lake Winnipeg beach in a 2010 file photo.

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.

Link:

Testing finds toxic algae at some Manitoba beaches