Provincial staff to post beach water quality results for west-central Sask. this summer

By Your Southwest Media Group

Provincial staff plan to post information about the water quality at several beaches in west-central Saskatchewan this summer.

The healthy beaches program, including "advisories when necessary, helps visitors make informed decisions," a Health Department statement said.

"Saskatchewan's lakes and beaches are an important part of summer recreation for families and visitors across the province," noted Jeremy Cockrill, the health minister.

Beaches at Clearwater Lake and Palliser regional parks, Cottonwood Beach at Sask. Landing Provincial Park, the visitor centre beach at Danielson and the main beach at Pike Lake are among those covered in this region.

All of those were "not sampled yet" as of June 17.

Neither were three beaches farther north: the public beach at Cochin, Golden Sands Beach on Turtle Lake and the public beach at Brightsand Lake Regional Park.

Workers will collect and analyze water samples to make sure it "meets established Canadian recreational water guidelines," the statement said. They'll have the results posted on the healthy beaches map, reached through Healthy Beaches Program, Environmental Health, Province of Saskatchewan.

"The program also supports rapid response to environmental health concerns, including elevated bacteria levels and blue-green algae blooms," the statement added.

Officials chose locations "based on factors such as beach popularity, environmental health assessments, historical data and potential public health risks," the statement explained. Anyone who notices potential health or safety concerns at a monitored beach should contact the area's public health inspector, it advised.