Seine River water test shows extreme E. coli concentration — eight times the level that shuts down beaches

WINNIPEG / TREATY 1 TERRITORY AND HOMELAND OF THE MÉTIS NATION — Water quality monitoring by the Wilderness Committee found extremely high levels of E. coli in one section of the Seine River in Winnipeg, prompting the organization to call for public health warnings and the establishment of a city-wide water quality monitoring program.

“I'm scared and disappointed by the results of the water quality test I conducted on the Seine,” said Wilderness and Water Campaigner Eric Reder. “We have to find out the cause and fix this problem.”

As part of planned community events scheduled on Winnipeg waterways, the Wilderness Committee decided to test the river water. Tests on the Red and Assiniboine Rivers showed E. coli levels within the province’s beach guidelines. The E. coli level on the Seine River in south Winnipeg was also acceptable, but the Seine River reading at Happyland Park was 1,733 — more than eight times the 200-count per 100 ml the province uses to shut down beaches.

The Manitoba government routinely monitors and posts test results from more than 50 beaches across the province. There is no public water testing conducted in the city of Winnipeg.

“Caring for our water and for the people of Winnipeg means establishing a water quality monitoring program,” said Reder. “I need the person paddling down the river and the kid fishing in the park to know what risks they're being exposed to.”

“There are a lot of stressors in our world right now,” said Reder. “People need to be outdoors. People need to be on the water for their mental health. All we need to do is care for our waters, so that we can swim and fish in it.”

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Test results:
​​​​​​Five water quality test results from the Seine River found online here

Background:
Manitoba government Clean Beaches Program

For more information please contact:
Eric Reder | Wilderness and Water Campaigner
204-997-8584, eric@wildernesscommittee.org