People shouldn't swim at Regina Beach due to bacteria, health authority warns

The Saskatchewan Health Authority is advising people not to swim at Regina Beach on Last Mountain Lake.

This time of year, the beach and town about 45 kilometres northwest of Regina is a busy tourist area. On Thursday the SHA was putting up signs warning that the water is not suitable for swimming or other recreation activities.

The reason is high levels of E.coli in the water. The bacteria can make people sick if ingested.

According to the health authority, symptoms may include diarrhea, stomach cramps, nauseaand vomiting.

The SHA tests the water weekly. According to the province's healthy beacheswebsite, E.coli levels at Regina Beach are more than 30 times what they were a month ago.

As of Thursday night, there was only one other beach in the province under a water status advisory.

Stoney Beach south of Humboldt has high levels of microcystin, which is caused by blue-green algae.