Elbow River swimmers warned to 'be cautious' on section still contaminated by fecal coliforms

Alberta Health Services is reminding water enthusiasts to avoid swimming or wading in a section of Elbow River that has been contaminated for almost two years.

The health authority issued a contaminationadvisoryreminder on Thursday, asthe warm weather may encourage people to use that part of theriver recreationally.

The advisory affects the area between Calgary's Sandy Beach and NinthAvenue S.E.

Fecalcoliformscan cause vomiting and diarrhea, so anyone who uses the water shouldwash their hands afterwardandavoid getting any on their face and mouth. Water should not be ingested. Washing your hands will also prevent skin, ear and eye infections.

The city says the contamination likely comes from various sources, such as wildlife waste or parks runoff, and not from a sewer leak.

'Be cautious'

After the 2013 flood, the river became more shallowin that area. The flow also slowed, so that section appearedto be anexcellent spot for swimming, wading and floating.

AHSstarted testing the water quality in thespot in July 2016after it became increasingly used for recreation. The tests found elevated levels of fecalcoliforms.

Warning signs are now posted at common river access points, AHS said.

Because the issue is longstanding,AHSwanted to remindpeopleas the weather warms up, Calgary zone medical officerDr. Jason Cabajsaid Thursday.

He wouldn'trecommend swimming in thisriver, noringesting its water or that of other rivers.

"But if people are going to use it, be cautious about that and try to protect themselves from risk of infection," he said.

Some swimmers unaware

Margit Placewas one of several people out planning to swimThursday at the affected spot on the river.

She only learned about the health risk whenCBCNews told her.

"I think that's terrible. It's really concerning because the regular public probably doesn't know that," Place said. "Wewere planning on dipping our feet in the water today, so maybe we'll change our mind."

Katie Unickalso was there planning to swim.

She actually did swim in it on Wednesday and felt ill, but attributed the symptoms to what she ate.

"It's unfortunate because obviously we love enjoying the Calgary rivers," Unick said. "Now we can't swim,and maybe the city can do something about it. I just don't know what."

Not sewer, says city

The city is trying to identify the source and work on measures to keep the river clean but NormaRuecker, the microbiology and watershed assessment leader for the City of Calgary, said it is a complicated goal.

"If there was something to go and fix, we would do it,"Rueckersaid."We are involved in that process but I don't believethere's one thing to fix that's just going tomiraculouslymake the river better."

Rueckersaid the source isn't easily identifiable and likely comes from small sources.

"I do not believe it's linked to our sewage system. I have no reasonto believe that," Ruecker said.

"We know what that looks like from other events that happened, and so that is why experience tells me this is not asewermain we need to go fix."

Instead, itmay be from a combination of rain washingdirt off streets into drain, or leftovers frompark visitorsrelieving themselves outside of the washroom, or pet and wildlife waste.

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