Tainted water advisory extended

Alberta Health Services reporting harmful bacteria still in Elbow River

CALGARY Contamination warnings along the Elbow River were extended south Friday after Alberta Health Services reported dangerous bacteria are still in the water.

“The water itself has the bacteria in it, so you want to avoid any contact with it,” said AHS spokeswoman Shannon Evans.

Although swallowing the water is dangerous, it can also be a danger to skin, eyes and ears, Evans added.

“Even if you’re just wading in the water, any contact with the water can cause a skin infection,” she said.

And drinking or accidentally swallowing the water can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

The warning was originally issued on July 8 after AHS detected unusually high levels of fecal coliforms, a type of bacteria, in the water. The advisory previously stretched from Ninth Avenue S.E., near Inglewood and Ramsay, to 25th Avenue S.W., near Mission and Erlton.

The river also had contamination issues last summer.

Now, however, it extends to Sandy Beach Park, which is close to 50th Avenue S.W. That area covers Riverdale, River and Stanley parks.

Evans said the extension was made as a precautionary measure, and the advisory will stay in place until further notice.

“As we’ve continued to do the routine testing, those elevated levels have continued to be detected,” she said.

“We just wanted the public to be aware of the situation since it appears to be ongoing.”

Evans said the public shouldn’t go in the water at any of those sites at all. Signage has also been posted at popular river spots to warn prospective swimmers.