Blue-Green Algae

When the conditions are favourable (hot, calm weather), most often in July and August, the numbers of algae can increase dramatically. This can create large numbers of blue-green algae called blooms. When the blooms rise to the surface of the water, they cover the surface of the water and can look like thick pea soup, often blue-green in color. Although these blooms occur naturally, water bodies enriched with plant nutrients from municipal, industrial or agricultural sources are more likely to have these growths.

Some blue-green algal blooms can be toxic or poisonous if swallowed by wildlife, livestock or people.

There are two types of toxins or poisons in some blue-green algae:

• Neurotoxins affect the nervous and respiratory systems. These toxins can cause muscle tremors, stupor, staggering, rapid paralysis, problems with breathing and, often within 30 minutes, death. Animals that die from this toxin are usually found close to the lake or pond where they drank water with blue-green algal blooms.
• Hepato-toxins affect the liver and can cause a slow death, up to 36 hours or longer after drinking water with toxic strains of blue-green algae. Animals who get sick after drinking enough of this toxin may show jaundice (yellowing of the white of the eye) and sensitivity to sunlight.

People are at risk from the toxic effects of some blue-green algae in untreated drinking water.

During a blue-green algal bloom, water looks and smells bad. Adults or older children will not likely drink this water. However, younger children may be less careful, or unaware of the dangers of drinking water with blue-green algal blooms.

If you drink water with toxic blue-green algae, you may have symptoms such as fever, sore throat, dizziness, stomach cramps, diarrhea or vomiting. These symptoms may last for several days. If you swim in contaminated water you may get itchy and irritated eyes and skin.

If you might have come in contact with blue-green algae toxins and have any of these symptoms, rinse any scum off your body and see your doctor right away.

If livestock or other domestic animals have no other source of drinking water, they may be poisoned by drinking water from open water bodies, such as lakes or ponds, contaminated with toxic strains of blue-green algae.

The most common poisonings occur among cattle. In some cases, wind may blow the algae floating on the surface towards the shoreline. Some livestock may wade out into the lake beyond the bloom before they drink, and they may not be affected. Young livestock usually drink closer to the shore and are more likely to be poisoned.

Most blooms are short-lived. An affected area will be safe again likely in a few days or a week or two.

• Do not drink untreated water from water bodies, whether you can see a bloom on the surface or not.
• Do not wade, swim or bathe in water with visible blooms.
• Do not cook, wash dishes, or do laundry using water with blue-green algae in it. Boiling water does not remove toxins from the water.
• If blue-green algal blooms are present, do not let pets get into the water. Provide other sources of drinking water for pets.
• Blooms grow more quickly in non-moving or stagnant water. 
• Divert surface rainwater runoff from yards with buffer strips. Blooms flourish from runoff flowing through fertilized grass.

Some blue-green algal blooms are more toxic than others so all blooms should be treated with caution.

One of the first signs of toxic blue-green algae in a body of water is the presence of stressed, sick or dead wildlife or waterfowl along the shoreline. If you see any dead or distressed animals along a shoreline, especially with an algal bloom, contact the village.

Phosphorus in Lake County

Filamentous Algae