Dear Editor,
As partners in health, it’s important to us that community residents understand our role and goals when it comes to identifying health risks in recreational bodies of water, and the steps we take to reduce exposure to those risks.
As noted in the above named article, on July 10, 2019, Alberta Health Services (AHS) issued a health advisory for the Kinosoo Beach area of Cold Lake. The advisory was issued due to elevated levels of Enterococcus bacteria (fecal bacteria) present in the water. These levels were detected through the water quality testing that is completed every week, for the duration of the summer season.
Issuing an advisory is not an action we take lightly. We understand – and share – the desire to enjoy the beaches and lakes of Alberta in the summer. We also have a duty to ensure that Albertans know if there are health risks associated with those beaches and lakes.
Through our partnership with the City of Cold Lake, the water quality at Kinosoo Beach is evaluated weekly, against recreational water quality benchmarks that were established to ensure water can be used without risk to the health of Albertans. Contrary to the suggestion made in this article, the testing methods for the Enterococcus bacteria found in Kinosoo Beach water have not changed and are also not unique to Cold Lake.
When a weekly test result shows contamination exceeding benchmark levels in any recreational body of water in Alberta, that means that swimmers in this water could become ill.
If there is a risk of illness, AHS acts.
Health advisories for impacted recreational water areas are sent to local media and shared on the AHS website, as well as through AHS social media: all steps taken to ensure that you and your families have the information you need to avoid illness.
AHS also works closely with impacted municipalities to post advisory signage at the recreation area, again ensuring visitors to the lakes have the information they need to protect their own health.
These advisories remain in place while the risk of illness is still present. Weekly test results are reviewed and compared to track water quality and identify decreases in bacteria levels. When levels of bacteria are found to be within benchmarks again, AHS will lift (or ‘rescind’) the advisory.
Additional information about these shared testing processes can be found in the Alberta Safe Beach Protocol by visiting https://open.alberta.ca/publications/9781460145395
For additional information on AHS water monitoring, please visit: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/wf/eph/wf-eph-2019-beach-monitoring-operators.pdf
If you suspect contamination in a body of water in Alberta, please report this concern to your local AHS Environmental Public Health Office. By doing so, you will be protecting the health of your friends, neighbors and visitors to your local body of water.
To find your Environmental Public Health Office, please visit us at www.ahs.ca/eph
Thank you,
Dr. Albert de Villiers
Medical Officer of Health, North Zone
Alberta Health Services
