Ma-Me-O Beach - 6th Street

Ma-me-o, Alberta
Managed by North Saskatchewan Riverkeeper
Blue-green algae advisory issued August 11, 2017 Avoid all contact with blooms, click for details

Ma-Me-O Beach on Pigeon Lake is one of several popular beaches on this lake. Ma-Me-O is the Cree word for "white pigeon". This may relate to the fact there were enough Passenger Pigeons in the area to have the lake named "Pigeon" from it's original name of "Woodpecker" Lake. The beach and day use area at Ma-me-o is known for its white, plentiful sand and excellent amenities such as the playground and picnicing areas. The swimming area is shallow and the waters are usually clear and warm with more algal growth in the months of July and August. Ma-me-o competes with Sylvan Beach as one of the better "scenes" for younger people but still a great family atmosphere.

WATER QUALITY
  • No data available
  • Special Status
  • This status is based on the latest sample, taken on . North Saskatchewan Riverkeeper updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on at
For water quality icon legend, click:   
CURRENT WEATHER
2°C
Clear and sunny
  • Report Pollution
MONITORING FREQUENCY

Ma-Me-O Beach - 6th Street is sampled weekly from June 5th to September 1st

SOURCE INFORMATION

Alberta Health Services (AHS) monitors freshwater beaches across the province in five zones: North, Edmonton, Central, Calgary, and South. Water samples at this beach are collected by AHS staff and processed in environmental labs.

This site is usually sampled on a weekly basis for thermotolerant coliforms and at varying frequencies for cyanobacteria and microcystins (blue-green algae) during the summer months.

Water quality is monitored in accordance with standards outlined in a previous version of the General Nuisance and Sanitation Regulation, under Alberta’s Public Health Act. New standards are currently being developed.

Thermotolerant coliforms serve as an indicator of faecal contamination, which poses a human health risk. Guidelines recommend that a water quality advisory be posted when tests for thermotolerant coliforms over the preceding 30 days produce results with a geometric mean greater than 200 colony forming units per 100 millilitres of water (200 CFU/100ml). An advisory may also be issued when any single sample exceeds 400 CFU/100ml, although this may first lead to further investigation.

When a Water Quality Advisory is issued, a notice is erected at the beach indicating that the location is unfit for swimming or bathing. In addition, a Water Quality Advisory is issued through the AHS website, local media, and Swim Guide. Swim Guide posts all advisories that are announced, but due to data sharing challenges, is not able to make updates when test results are within the guidelines. Therefore, the swim icon will appear grey, and any posted advisories will appear on the beach page. An advisory is rescinded once water quality meets the above standards.

In addition to thermotolerant coliforms, AHS monitors blue-green algae throughout the swimming season. Algal blooms are monitored through visual observation and through testing for cyanobacteria and microcystins (toxins produced by blue-green algae).

AHS issues a Blue-Green Algae Advisory when a bloom is identified. Advisories are posted online to www.albertahealthservices.ca/1926.asp, circulated by local media, and posted to Swim Guide. Appropriate signage is posted around the water body (public beaches, access points, campgrounds, etc). These advisories remain in place for the duration that the health risk persists.

WATER QUALITY GRAPH

Ma-Me-O Beach - 6th Street

Ma-me-o, Alberta
Managed by North Saskatchewan Riverkeeper
WATER QUALITY
  • No data available
  • Special Status
  • This status is based on the latest sample, taken on . North Saskatchewan Riverkeeper updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on at
For water quality icon legend, click:   
CURRENT WEATHER
2°C
Clear and sunny
Blue-green algae advisory issued August 11, 2017 Avoid all contact with blooms, click for details

Ma-Me-O Beach on Pigeon Lake is one of several popular beaches on this lake. Ma-Me-O is the Cree word for "white pigeon". This may relate to the fact there were enough Passenger Pigeons in the area to have the lake named "Pigeon" from it's original name of "Woodpecker" Lake. The beach and day use area at Ma-me-o is known for its white, plentiful sand and excellent amenities such as the playground and picnicing areas. The swimming area is shallow and the waters are usually clear and warm with more algal growth in the months of July and August. Ma-me-o competes with Sylvan Beach as one of the better "scenes" for younger people but still a great family atmosphere.

  • Report Pollution
MONITORING FREQUENCY

Ma-Me-O Beach - 6th Street is sampled weekly from June 5th to September 1st

SOURCE INFORMATION

Alberta Health Services (AHS) monitors freshwater beaches across the province in five zones: North, Edmonton, Central, Calgary, and South. Water samples at this beach are collected by AHS staff and processed in environmental labs.

This site is usually sampled on a weekly basis for thermotolerant coliforms and at varying frequencies for cyanobacteria and microcystins (blue-green algae) during the summer months.

Water quality is monitored in accordance with standards outlined in a previous version of the General Nuisance and Sanitation Regulation, under Alberta’s Public Health Act. New standards are currently being developed.

Thermotolerant coliforms serve as an indicator of faecal contamination, which poses a human health risk. Guidelines recommend that a water quality advisory be posted when tests for thermotolerant coliforms over the preceding 30 days produce results with a geometric mean greater than 200 colony forming units per 100 millilitres of water (200 CFU/100ml). An advisory may also be issued when any single sample exceeds 400 CFU/100ml, although this may first lead to further investigation.

When a Water Quality Advisory is issued, a notice is erected at the beach indicating that the location is unfit for swimming or bathing. In addition, a Water Quality Advisory is issued through the AHS website, local media, and Swim Guide. Swim Guide posts all advisories that are announced, but due to data sharing challenges, is not able to make updates when test results are within the guidelines. Therefore, the swim icon will appear grey, and any posted advisories will appear on the beach page. An advisory is rescinded once water quality meets the above standards.

In addition to thermotolerant coliforms, AHS monitors blue-green algae throughout the swimming season. Algal blooms are monitored through visual observation and through testing for cyanobacteria and microcystins (toxins produced by blue-green algae).

AHS issues a Blue-Green Algae Advisory when a bloom is identified. Advisories are posted online to www.albertahealthservices.ca/1926.asp, circulated by local media, and posted to Swim Guide. Appropriate signage is posted around the water body (public beaches, access points, campgrounds, etc). These advisories remain in place for the duration that the health risk persists.

WATER QUALITY GRAPH



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