Principal Factors Affecting Escherichia coli at Lake Winnipeg Beaches

During the summer of 2003, two beaches on Lake Winnipeg were briefly posted with signs recommending against bathing because Escherichia coli bacteria exceeded recreational water quality guidelines. Extensive studies were undertaken to determine the source of the bacteria and the mechanism of transfer to Lake Winnipeg beaches. The findings have been documented in an interim report (Lake Winnipeg Beach Interim Report - January 29, 2004).

These findings significantly enhance the present understanding of water quality at Lake Winnipeg beaches and the largely natural processes responsible for transferring and dispersing bacteria from the foreshore beach region to bathing water. These findings will allow a greater degree of protection to be provided to public health, particularly as intensive work continues to refine the predictive model linking wind-induced water level changes in the south basin of Lake Winnipeg with the transfer of indicator bacteria from the foreshore beach region to bathing water (NEWS RELEASE).