Water quality advisories in place for several central, northern Alberta lakes

With parts of central and northern Alberta seeing sunny summer weather again, many people will be looking for a body of water to jump in and cool off. However, swimmers should take note that Alberta Health Services has multiple water quality advisories in effect in that part of the province.

Here’s a look at the advisories that were in place as of Monday afternoon:

Blue-green algae bloom advisories

  • Lac Ste. Anne
  • Buck Lake
  • Islet Lake
  • Bear Lake
  • Wadlin Lake
  • Lac La Biche Lake

The health authority is advising people to avoid any and all contact with the algae blooms in bodies of water where an advisory has been issued and to wash with tap water immediately if contact is made.

People are also asked not to swim or wade in the water where algae is present and also not to allow their pets to go into the water where algae can be seen.

“Blue-green algae is naturally occurring and often becomes visible when weather conditions are calm,” AHS said. “Appearing like scum, grass clippings, fuzz or globs on the surface of water, blue-green algae can be blue-green, greenish-brown, brown, and/or pinkish-red, and often [smells] musty or grassy.

“People who come in contact with visible blue-green algae or who ingest water containing blue-green algae may experience skin irritation, rash, sore throat, sore red eyes, swollen lips, fever, nausea and vomiting and/or diarrhea. Symptoms usually appear within one to three hours and resolve in one to two days. Symptoms in children are often more pronounced, however, all humans are at risk of these symptoms.”

Watch below: (From July 20, 2019) About two-million Canadians visit Mexico each year, but there’s a growing problem threatening tourism there. Algae is washing ashore, putting a damper on the fun in the sun. Reggie Cecchini reports.

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