Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae has been identified in the waters of Lac Ste. Anne.
Cyanobacteria is naturally occurring and often becomes visible when weather conditions are calm.
Appearing like scum, grass clippings, fuzz or globs on the surface of water, cyanobacteria can be blue-green, greenish-brown, brown and/or pinkish-red, and often smell musty or grassy.
Visitors to this lake are advised to take the following precautions:
- Avoid all contact with cyanobacterial blooms. If contact occurs, wash with tap water as soon as possible.
- Do not swim or wade or allow your pets to swim or wade in any areas where cyanobacteria is visible.
- Do not feed whole fish or fish trimmings from this lake to your pets.
- Consider limiting human consumption of whole fish and fish trimmings from this lake, as it is known fish may store toxins in their liver.
Alberta Health Services said people can safely consume fish fillets from this lake.
Visitors and residents are reminded to never drink or cook with untreated water directly from any recreational body of water, including Lac Ste. Anne at any time.
Boiling of this water will not remove the toxins produced by cyanobacteria. An alternate source of drinking water should also be provided for pets and livestock while this advisory is active.
People who come in contact with a cyanobacterial bloom or who ingest water containing cyanobacteria may experience skin irritation, rash, sore throat, sore red eyes, swollen lips, fever, nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea.
Symptoms can appear within one to three hours and usually resolve in one to two days.
Symptoms in children are often more pronounced however, all people are at risk of these symptoms. Exposure to cyanobacteria may be fatal to pets.
Weather and wind conditions can cause algae blooms to move from one location in the lake to another. As such, this advisory will remain in effect for Lac Ste. Anne until further notice.
Waters of Lac Ste. Anne in which the cyanobacterial bloom is NOT visible can still be used for recreational purposes, even while this Health Advisory is in place.
Comments