The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has issued a “do not swim” advisory at Wakaw Lake Regional Park Beach. In a social media post, Wakaw Lake Regional Park shared a news release from the SHA saying outlining that swimming was discouraged due to water contamination with E. coli bacteria. The park was urged to notify all users of the beach of the advisory by ensuring signage is posted until the advisory is lifted. “The beach will remain closed for swimming until further testing is done. Thank you for your cooperation,” the regional park stated. E. coli infections are usually caused by swallowing Escherichia coli bacteria, which can be found in fecal matter and spread through contaminated food or tainted water. The SHA says the advisory will be in place until a minimum of one set of five samples meet the guidelines of less than 235 E. coli/100 millilitres. Symptoms of illness from E. coli can include severe stomach cramps and pain, watery or bloody diarrhea, nausea and vomiting and a low fever. Last month a vacationer at Wakaw Lake raised concerns about green water and suspected algae blooms after finding dozens of dead fish. Public health officials with SHA conduct regular testing of water from recreational areas across the province as part of the provincial Healthy Beaches Program. At the time of the story, the most recent published samples for Wakaw Lake from July 13 showed acceptable levels of microcystin – one of the toxins produced by cyanobacteria – around the Wakaw Lake Regional Park main beach. With files from Rory MacLean
