FRANCAIS

January 29, 2004

New test results will help the province develop even more effective ways of ensuring beach safety on Lake Winnipeg, Water Stewardship Minister Steve Ashton said today.

Research conducted by Manitoba Water Stewardship shows wave action is responsible for occasionally dispersing E. coli living in wet sand to bathing water, resulting in periodic high E. coli readings along popular Lake Winnipeg beaches this past summer.

"Manitobans are fortunate to have an opportunity to enjoy some of the best beaches in North America," said Ashton. "To help maintain and ensure the quality of our beaches, the province recently undertook testing at several Lake Winnipeg beaches. The findings will provide us the tools to continue to protect the high quality of our beaches."

Ashton noted that there have been a few occasions in the past where limited periods of high, localized levels of E. coli have been detected at some Manitoba beaches. "The findings of the tests conducted last summer indicate that these levels are a combination of wind and wave action on our beaches," said Ashton. "Now that we know that some parts of the beaches themselves can harbour large numbers of bacteria and that these bacteria are occasionally transferred to the bathing water, we can use this information to provide an even higher level of protection to bathers."

As a result of the findings, Ashton said that the province is currently developing a plan that will include measures to increase awareness of the importance of keeping beaches clean.

An important component of the plan will be the development of a clean beaches program that will be designed to educate the public on activities that contribute to instances of E. coli on beaches such as littering, other activities that attract birds such as gulls and the practice of grooming beaches. The program will also reinforce how taking appropriate precautions when visiting beaches can reduce the possibility of becoming sick. Ashton said that the program will developed by this spring.

DNA fingerprinting commissioned by the department has revealed that the majority of the bacteria along the beaches is from animals, and gulls are the single largest identifiable contributor. The E. coli then makes its way into beach water from the sand by the up-rush and backwash of water into the beach area.

The significant new finding has also recently been established at several Lake Michigan beaches and is contrary to the long-held but unproven assumption that the occasional high E. coli counts at Lake Winnipeg beaches must be due to large local or regional sources.

Research in Manitoba and the State of Michigan shows that E. coli survives and possibly reproduces in layers of wet sand just below beach surfaces. Wave action drives water up onto the beaches and releases E. coli back into the water.

When people go to the beach they often enjoy a picnic lunch, snacks or other food. The improper disposal of this food waste attracts gulls and other birds that in turn contribute to the high levels of E. coli in sand.

The minister noted that the findings released today are preliminary and further testing and research will be conducted this summer. The research will also be subject to a peer review process.

"The health and safety of beach users continues to be our prime concern," said Ashton. "We will use this new body of knowledge and the existing beach water quality monitoring program this summer to provide information that will help people make informed decisions when using the beaches." Ashton indicated that the department will be consulting with affected municipalities and other departments, including Manitoba Health, regarding the findings and the development of posting and monitoring program.

Lake Winnipeg generally has no significant E. coli concentrations. The warnings issued this past summer were the first in 10 years and were localized concentrations.

Major Lake Winnipeg beaches have been routinely monitored for bacteria since the early 1980s. If Manitoba’s recreational water quality objective level of 200 E. coli per 100 ml of water is exceeded in repeated measurements, beaches are posted by order of a medical officer of health.

The minister said Manitoba will approach its federal, provincial and territorial partners to review the Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality, developed by the partners and currently used in decisions to post signs on beaches regarding E. coli in water levels.

"We want to assure Manitobans and visitors that, in the spirit of its commitment to improving the overall water quality of Lake Winnipeg, the government is doing everything it can to make a day at the beach the enjoyable experience it has always been," said Ashton.

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