On July 30th, 2008 MEGI directors Fraser Murray and Michael Gaudet went out to the spot where the Resort Village of Manitou Beach's sewage lagoon discharge mixes with the lake water to take a water sample. After this, they took another sample about 50 feet off-shore.
These two samples were packed on ice and sent by STC bus to the Provincial Disease Control Laboratory on the following day. The results and interpretation of these tests will be published as soon as they are available so stay posted.
It is our hope that the bacterial counts observed from our first test will be much lower once the discharge hits the water and is diluted. The PH levels in the lake ought to act to kill off the bacteria as well. In any event, this group has established a "ZERO TOLERANCE" policy towards any potentially harmful inputs into Little Manitou Lake, as outlined in our Mandate and Mission Statement.
Showing posts with label Manitou Beach sewage lagoon run-off sample. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Manitou Beach sewage lagoon run-off sample. Show all posts
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Sewage Lagoon Run-off Analysis & Interpretation
Manitou Environmental Group Inc. received the following letter from Phil Bailey, Director of Environmental Services, Saskatchewan Disease Control Laboratory. In this letter the laboratory analysis of the water sample taken from the sewage lagoon run-off just west of Camp Easter Seal were interpreted by Mr. Bailey.
"The values of total coliform and e.coli bacteria counts measured in the
sample taken from the ravine connecting the lagoon to Little Manitou Lake
(Invoice 1017013) are what might be found for run off from a sewage lagoon discharge source. Without being familiar with the location from which the sample was taken, it would be expected that the bacteria levels would undergo substantial reduction after dilution into the lake. The very high mineral levels in Little Manitou Lake will further act to inhibit the growth and survival of these bacteria, as will pH values above 7.
The attached Surface Water Quality Objectives document produced by
Saskatchewan Environment is available at
http://www.saskh2o.ca/WaterInformationFactSheet_Surface.asp
and includes information on the surface water quality objectives for the
protection of aquatic life, recreation and agricultural uses.
The Environmental Protection Officer responsible for the region should be
"The values of total coliform and e.coli bacteria counts measured in the
sample taken from the ravine connecting the lagoon to Little Manitou Lake
(Invoice 1017013) are what might be found for run off from a sewage lagoon discharge source. Without being familiar with the location from which the sample was taken, it would be expected that the bacteria levels would undergo substantial reduction after dilution into the lake. The very high mineral levels in Little Manitou Lake will further act to inhibit the growth and survival of these bacteria, as will pH values above 7.
The attached Surface Water Quality Objectives document produced by
Saskatchewan Environment is available at
http://www.saskh2o.ca/
and includes information on the surface water quality objectives for the
protection of aquatic life, recreation and agricultural uses.
The Environmental Protection Officer responsible for the region should be
consulted for further information on surface water standards for fecal
streptoccoci, coliforms and e.coli. A list of EPO officers is available at
the following address, I would guess that Little Manitou Lake would be under the Watrous jurisdiction.
http://www.saskh2o.ca/DWBinder/EPB230AContactList.pdf
In order to gain a more complete understanding of the water quality in the
lake it is recommended to carry out a study at several locations in the lake over an extended time period to determine seasonal and environmental effects.
Regards,"
Phil Bailey,
Director, Environmental Services,
Saskatchewan Disease Control Laboratory,
3211 Albert Street,
Regina, SK, S4S 5W6
Tel: (306) 787-3140
Fax: (306) 798-0046
E:mail pbailey@health.gov.sk.ca
Further notes:
Manitou Environmental Group Inc.has taken a sample of sewage lagoon runoff and has received test results back from the Ministry of Health SK Disease Control Laboratory. Phil Bailey, Director of Environmental Services, Saskatchewan Disease Control Laboratory explained the meaning of the test results.
Mr. Bailey says that the average effluent runoff (from 5000 sewage lagoons in SK) is 200-300 organisms and possibly as high as 1000 of fecal strepococci per 100 mls of discharge. The fecal strepococci count found in the sewage lagoon run-off at Village of Manitou Beach is 3000 organisms per 100 mls of discharge.
The average as per above for total coliform, another bacterial strain is upper level 1000 per 100 mls of discharge. Village of Manitou Beach is 275, 500 organisms per 100 mls of discharge.
You can see how much water is flowing when you watch the video that shows Fraser Murray and James Alcock taking the sewage runoff sample on the blog post (below) called "Manitou Beach Lagoon Runoff Sample"
Mr. Bailey emphasized that there is a high probability that the effluent will be diluted by the body of water. He also advised us that these are unusually high readings. Mr. Bailey said that the sewage lagoons at the Village of Manitou Beach rank in the upper 1 percentile of bacterial count. These statements by Mr. Bailey lead us to believe that the existing sewage treatment lagoons with the current flow of material are inadequate to lower the bacterial counts prior to the discharge being released into Little Manitou Lake.
This group feels that Little Manitou Lake is a precious resource and that it is important to build a concensus in the community around protecting it for future generations so they will enjoy the benefits of the "Healing Waters" as we do today.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
Manitou Environmental Group Inc.
streptoccoci, coliforms and e.coli. A list of EPO officers is available at
the following address, I would guess that Little Manitou Lake would be under the Watrous jurisdiction.
http://www.saskh2o.ca/
In order to gain a more complete understanding of the water quality in the
lake it is recommended to carry out a study at several locations in the lake over an extended time period to determine seasonal and environmental effects.
Regards,"
Phil Bailey,
Director, Environmental Services,
Saskatchewan Disease Control Laboratory,
3211 Albert Street,
Regina, SK, S4S 5W6
Tel: (306) 787-3140
Fax: (306) 798-0046
E:mail pbailey@health.gov.sk.ca
Further notes:
Manitou Environmental Group Inc.has taken a sample of sewage lagoon runoff and has received test results back from the Ministry of Health SK Disease Control Laboratory. Phil Bailey, Director of Environmental Services, Saskatchewan Disease Control Laboratory explained the meaning of the test results.
Mr. Bailey says that the average effluent runoff (from 5000 sewage lagoons in SK) is 200-300 organisms and possibly as high as 1000 of fecal strepococci per 100 mls of discharge. The fecal strepococci count found in the sewage lagoon run-off at Village of Manitou Beach is 3000 organisms per 100 mls of discharge.
The average as per above for total coliform, another bacterial strain is upper level 1000 per 100 mls of discharge. Village of Manitou Beach is 275, 500 organisms per 100 mls of discharge.
You can see how much water is flowing when you watch the video that shows Fraser Murray and James Alcock taking the sewage runoff sample on the blog post (below) called "Manitou Beach Lagoon Runoff Sample"
Mr. Bailey emphasized that there is a high probability that the effluent will be diluted by the body of water. He also advised us that these are unusually high readings. Mr. Bailey said that the sewage lagoons at the Village of Manitou Beach rank in the upper 1 percentile of bacterial count. These statements by Mr. Bailey lead us to believe that the existing sewage treatment lagoons with the current flow of material are inadequate to lower the bacterial counts prior to the discharge being released into Little Manitou Lake.
This group feels that Little Manitou Lake is a precious resource and that it is important to build a concensus in the community around protecting it for future generations so they will enjoy the benefits of the "Healing Waters" as we do today.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
Manitou Environmental Group Inc.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Manitou Beach Lagoon Run-off Sample
On Wednesday July 09, 2008, Fraser Murray, James Alcock and Michael Gaudet drove out to the west side of the Manitou Beach lagoon with the intention of taking a water sample if there was any noticeable run-off. Not only was it noticeable, it was a rushing stream. We were a bit shocked to see how much water was flowing out of the lagoon and down a ravine into the lake. We observed that there was a culvert installed at some point this spring/summer and that the water was rushing through and then onward down hill directly into the lake. We documented the extraction of the water sample by Fraser Murray, life-long resident of Manitou Beach and Director of Manitou Environmental Group Inc. James Alcock, who lives and farms about 10 kms southeast of Manitou Beach, accompanied us as a material witness to the fact.
The sample was sent (packed on ice) by courier to the Disease Control Laboratory of the Provincial Laboratory of the Ministry of Health in Regina the following morning and now we await the results. We are testing for fecal E-Coli and a couple of other pathogens. Now we have our fingers crossed hoping that he results will be negative and that we can all breathe a sigh of relief. In any event, we will certainly make our findings known to the public by publishing the official results (and the analysis of the results) both on this blog and in the Watrous Manitou newspaper.
The sample was sent (packed on ice) by courier to the Disease Control Laboratory of the Provincial Laboratory of the Ministry of Health in Regina the following morning and now we await the results. We are testing for fecal E-Coli and a couple of other pathogens. Now we have our fingers crossed hoping that he results will be negative and that we can all breathe a sigh of relief. In any event, we will certainly make our findings known to the public by publishing the official results (and the analysis of the results) both on this blog and in the Watrous Manitou newspaper.
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