July 24, 2003

The beach posting issued on Tuesday, July 22, 2003, has been lifted for Gimli Beach as the latest test results of E. coli levels fall well within recreational water guidelines.

These guidelines recommend warnings be posted when E. coli levels exceed a count of 200 per 100 ml sample. Levels in 15 samples taken Wednesday showed an average result of 16, well below warning level recommendations.

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. This year, 50 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 are representative of the overall beach area.

Manitoba Conservation will continue to monitor the situation with frequent testing. Data are posted on the department’s Web site at:

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 above the guideline.

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

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