E. coli warnings ignored by Saskatchewan beachgoers

There may be E.coliadvisories in effect telling people not to swim in a number of flood-swollen Saskatchewan lakes and rivers, but it seems a lot of people either don't know or don't care.

Vlad Schevchenko was just one of the people swimming at Regina Beach yesterday, despite clearly posted signs that warned about high levels of harmful bacteria.

"I didn't read the sign before I went in and then I came out and read it," Schevchenko said. "It might be harmful. We'll see what happens."

I don't care about those signs.I'm out here to have a good time with my friends.- StefhenRockthunder

Stefhen Rockthunder also shrugged off the warnings that read:"Unsafe for swimming and other in-water activities".

"I don't care about those signs," he said. "I'm out here to have a good time with my friends."

Following torrential rains that overwhelmed sewer systems and caused widespread flooding, the government sampled the water at Last Mountain, Echo,PasquaandKatepwalakes and found too much harmful bacteria.

• Nasty bug E. coli found in flooded waters, Sask. warns

The same results are expected for Crooked and Round lakes.

University of Regina microbiologist Christopher Yost says where there's too much E. coli, there are usually other harmful bacteria which can make people sick.

• Understanding E. coli: symptoms, spread, prevention (CBC In-Depth)

"You would show symptoms that you might equate with food poisoning," he said. "Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea those types of situations."

Yost saiduntil the E. coli advisories are lifted, people should avoid swallowing water at any of the lakes where bacteria levels are high.