Interior Health is advising residents and people visiting Wood Lake not to drink, swim or bathe in the water and to keep their animals away from the lake, due to the presence of a large algae bloom.
The blue-green algae bloom, which can look like a thick sludge in some parts of the lake, can cause the water to become dangerous to people, pets and livestock very quickly.
For this reason, it is recommended that individuals:
Swimming or drinking algae-bloom affected water can cause headaches, nausea, fever, muscle aches, mouth ulcers, red skin, sore throat, cramps or diarrhea.
If you are showing any of the symptoms listed above and believe they may be from exposure to blue-green algae, see a health-care provider.
Additional information on cyanobacteria blooms (blue-green algae) is available at HealthLinkBC: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthlinkbc-files/blue-green-algae
Ministry of Environment’s Algae Watch website: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/water/water-quality/algae-watch
Additional information on safe drinking water is available at HealthLinkBC: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthlinkbc-files/disinfecting-drinking-water