La baignade est de retour à l'île Saint-Quentin

Photo: Ève Guillemette

"À partir des derniers échantillons, prélevés lundi (19 juillet 2010), le ministère du Développement durable, de l'Environnement et des Parcs (MDDEP), a attribué la cote C à l'aire de baignade de l'île Saint-Quentin. Les pancartes avisant que l'eau était temporairement impropre à la baignade ont été retirées vers 14h hier, alors que le mercure et le soleil étaient encore bien hauts.

M. Guindon (directeur général de l'île Saint-Quentin) souligne que la qualité de l'eau dans la Saint-Maurice est bonne, du moins selon les échantillonnages prélevés régulièrement à l'entrée d'eau de l'usine de filtration de Trois-Rivières, plus en amont. Pour leur part, les responsables de l'île Saint-Quentin sont en mesure de faire une analyse quotidienne de la conductivité de l'eau, ce qui leur indique si celle-ci provient davantage du fleuve que de la rivière. Le Saint-Laurent est le principal responsable de la contamination de l'aire de baignade devant la plage, rappelle le directeur général du parc.

C'est toutefois le MDDEP qui se charge des analyses bactériologiques, effectuées une fois par semaine."

Extraits d'un article écrit par Guillaume Jacob publié dans Le Nouvelliste ici: http://www.cyberpresse.ca/le-nouvelliste/201007/21/01-4299994-la-baignade-est-de-retour-a-lile-saint-quentin.php
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"Poison algae closes lochs to watersports

A dangerous algae which forced the closure of two Lanarkshire lochs could disrupt water sports for the rest of the summer. Water samples taken by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) at Strathclyde Loch in Strathclyde Country Park, Motherwell, and Lochend Loch at Drumpellier Country Park, Coatbridge, have shown “abundant” blue green algae (BGA). BGA blooms often produce toxins that can harm humans and animals.

North Lanarkshire Council has temporarily cancelled all watersports than involve being immersed in the water and are advising people not to let their pets drink or play in the water. It could be months before the ban is lifted. The Strathclyde Park Watersports Centre is used for rowing, sailing, waterski events and jetski racing. The internationally renowned venue will host events during the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Lochend Loch is used for recreational watersports, with visitors able hire rowing boats and pedaloes. The British Rowing Championships will be held at Strathclyde Loch this weekend but will not be affected as competitors are not expected to leave their boats and enter the water. However, water-skiing, swimming and windsurfing will not be available.

Scottish Natural Heritage’s Dr Colin Bean said: “The recent heat will have contributed to the algae blooms. “While not all BGA is toxic, some of it is and it can be dangerous to both animals and humans.” Symptoms of contact with or ingestion of BGA infected water include abdominal pains, vomiting, diarrhoea, a sore throat and blistering in the mouth.Pneumonia and gastroenteritis are also possible. Ingestion of the toxic scums that can be formed by algal blooms has caused deaths in cattle, sheep, dogs, birds and fish.

BGA, often referred to as pond scum, is most often blue-green in color, but can also be blue, green, reddish-purple, or brown. It generally grows in lakes, ponds, and slow-moving streams."

Excerpts from article written by Stef Lach published in the Evening Times here: http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/editor-s-picks/poison-algae-closes-lochs-to-watersports-1.1039740

While I'm happy when I hear some beaches are reopened for swimming, I wonder when I read about water problems in traditionnally rainy climes like Scotland!