FRANCAIS

July 22, 2003

A beach posting has been issued for Gimli Beach due to E. coli levels exceeding recreational water guidelines.

Swimming or water contact at Gimli Beach is not recommended by the regional medical officer of health.

Although the majority of swimmers will not become ill, the possibility of illness increases with high bacteria counts. The most common health risks that can occur are gastrointestinal illnesses, such as diarrhea, upper respiratory tract, eye, ear, nose or throat infections and skin ailments.

Swallowing contaminated water is the primary source of exposure to disease-causing micro-organisms. They may also enter the body through the ears, eyes and nose, or through broken skin.

Water monitoring is done routinely in Manitoba to ensure water quality guidelines are met. Each year, between 20 and 40 major beaches are monitored using internationally recognized protocols.

At the present time, the Lake Winnipeg beaches are being monitored on a weekly basis. Multiple samples are collected from each beach on a sampling trip to ensure data is representative of the overall beach area.

Manitoba Conservation will continue to monitor the situation with frequent testing. When the results meet the recreational quality guidelines, the beach posting will be removed. Manitoba Conservation publicizes the lab results on their Web site:

http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/watres/wq_beach_data.html.

Warning signs have previously been posted three times at Manitoba beaches. Signs were placed at West Grand Beach late last week and at three beaches on the west shore of Lake Winnipeg during the late summer of 1993 and at Delta Beach on Lake Manitoba during early summer 1997.

Indicator bacteria densities in all three cases persisted for only a short period of time.

Further information can be obtained through Health Links at 788-8200 or toll-free at 1-888-315-9257.

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