The water park at Prairie Winds Park in northeast Calgary is seen on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. It is closed until further notice. Photo by Jim Wells /Postmedia

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The Prairie Winds water park in northeast Calgary is temporarily closed after three cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) were linked to the facility.

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Those who visited the park between July 25 and Aug. 4 may have been exposed to the bacteria, warns Alberta Health Services.

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The park, which is operated by the City of Calgary, will be closed for one week beginning Friday while an investigation continues and cleaning and testing are completed. Appropriate measures have been implemented at the facility to prevent further spread, AHS said.

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Workers wearing protective clothing could be seen power-washing and cleaning the site on Saturday.

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Meanwhile, the Chinook Winds spray park in Airdrie has reopened after water quality issues there were remedied.

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An initial AHS closure notice last Friday stated water samples taken July 28, 31 and Aug. 4 had returned bacterial counts well above acceptable levels.

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Alberta swimming pool standards require a heterotrophic plate count no greater than 100 colony forming units per millilitre in a 100 ml sample. The counts ranged from 1,500 to 2,440 units in the three samples taken, according to the AHS notice.

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A city post Tuesday said the weekend closure was prompted by high levels of organic plant material.

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“City staff completed a shock treatment of the system, which involves adding a high concentration of chlorine to eliminate potential contaminants. They also rebalanced the water chemistry before reopening the spray park,” it reads.

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The STEC bacteria found at Prairie Winds Park spreads when someone comes into contact with infected feces and then touches their mouth, often causing diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea or vomiting.

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The same E. coli strain was behind a massive 2023 E. coli outbreak at 17 Calgary daycares that sickened hundreds of children.

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Most people with healthy immune systems recover, AHS said, and the most common complication is dehydration caused by diarrhea.

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AHS recommends anyone experiencing symptoms call 811 or see a primary care provider, and limit close contact with anyone at higher risk of severe illness, including young children, seniors and those who are immunocompromised.

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To limit the spread, AHS recommends frequent handwashing, particularly after using the washroom, changing diapers or touching raw meat, as well as before preparing food or eating. All kitchen tools should also be washed before and after meal preparation.

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AHS also advises against sharing food, drinks or eating utensils with anyone with symptoms, and urges anyone experiencing diarrhea to not enter any swimming pool or other aquatic facility for at least two weeks after symptoms subside.

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