Spring is here and the warmer weather means algae can start growing in your favorite lake and may form a bloom. Algae are a natural part of the aquatic ecosystems of lakes and algae blooms can occur throughout the Interior Health region.
Blue-green algae or Cyanobacteria can produce several types of toxins that can be poisonous to people, pets or livestock. Cyanobacteria blooms often cause the water to look bad and may also smell bad.
Two of the most important ways to reduce the risk is to rinse off with clean water after swimming and do not consume lake water. As well, follow these additional precautions:
You can report an algae bloom online with the Province of BC Algae Watch to have it identified.
Interior Health does not routinely test water of algae blooms to find a type of algae or its toxin. Algae blooms can change all the time.
If you’re showing any of the symptoms listed below and believe they may be from exposure to cyanobacteria, see your health care provider.
For the most up to date information, please visit Interior Health’s Cyanobacteria (Blue-Green Algae) page.
www.interiorhealth.ca > Your Environment > Recreational Water > Public Beaches > Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria) Blooms
Additional information on Cyanobacteria Blooms (Blue-Green Algae) is available at HealthLinkBC: Cyanobacteria Blooms (Blue-green Algae) | HealthLink BC; https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthlinkbc-files/cyanobacteria-blooms-blue-green-algae
Additional information on algae is available on Ministry of Environment’s Algae Watch website:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/water/water-quality/algae-watch