Officials issue fecal bacteria advisory in water at beach west of Edmonton

Alberta Health Services has issued an alert because of an elevated level of fecal bacteria at the Camp Yowochas beach on the north side of Wabamun Lake.

Provincial health officials are asking people not to swim or wade in – and definitely not to drink – the water at a beach west of Edmonton.

Alberta Health Services said in a media release Friday morning elevated levels of fecal-indicator bacteria has led the agency to ask would-be swimmers, waders and untreated-water drinkers to refrain from doing so at Camp Yowochas beach on Wabamun Lake.

It said testing of the lake water there showed the elevated levels, and that ingesting it could lead to gastrointestinal illness and coming into contact with it could result in skin, ear and eye infections.

The health agency said that drinking or cooking with untreated water from lakes or streams at any time is risky, as waterborne organisms, including fecal bacteria, can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

The advisory is in effect until further notice.

Camp Yowochas is on the north side of Wabamun Lake, 65 kilometres west of the Edmonton city limit.