North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit News Release *********************** The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit wishes to advise that a bloom of blue-green algae was detected in the Municipality of Callander at the North Bay Yacht Club
North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit News Release
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The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit wishes to advise that a bloom of blue-green algae was detected in the Municipality of Callander at the North Bay Yacht Club, GPS 17T: 625982 Easting, 5118337 Northing.
The Municipality of Callander is cooperating fully with the Ministry of the Environment and the Health Unit in terms of advice and notice to the public. The operator of Callander’s water treatment plant has activated all of the appropriate steps for the safety of the municipal water supply.
Given that the Microcystin-LR (bacteria toxin) concentration is above the acceptable standard for drinking water, the Health Unit advises residents and any visitors near the Yacht Club:
Avoid swimming and other water sport activities in the affected area that could increase the risk of algae material and toxins contacting your skin or being swallowed.
Do not allow your pets to use water from the affected area.
Owners of private water systems should avoid using the water near the North Bay Yacht Club for drinking, cooking and bathing. Use an alternate source of water for these purposes.
NOTE: Boiling the water or using home water treatment devices will NOT destroy the toxins. These precautions should be followed immediately and for three weeks after the bloom has disappeared. The Health Unit will provide further information as it becomes available.
More information about Blue-Green Algae can be found at www.healthunit.biz under ENVIRONMENT.
Quote
“Owners of private water systems should avoid using the water from the area around the North Bay Yacht Club because home treatment devices will NOT destroy the toxins. However, if your water comes from the Callander municipal water supply, you are not at risk.” Mike Duncan, Manager of Environmental Health
Quick Facts
Blue-green algae, known as ‘pond scum’, are primitive microscopic bacteria that live in fresh water. They are usually hard to see, but during hot weather, they can rapidly grow to form a large mass, called a bloom.
Toxins can irritate the skin and, if ingested, cause diarrhea and vomiting. At high enough levels, the toxins may cause liver and nervous system damage.
If skin contact does occur, wash with soap and water or rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove algae.
Blue-green algae thrive in warm, shallow, undisturbed water that receives a lot of sunlight and is rich in phosphorus and nitrogen. Animal and human waste and fertilizers contain phosphorus and nitrogen.
DO NOT:
Use the water for drinking, bathing, or showering.
Allow children, pets, or livestock to swim in the water or drink the water.
Cook with the water because food may absorb toxins from the water during cooking.
Boil the water because boiling it may release more toxins into the water.
Treat the water with a disinfectant like bleach. This may break open algae cells and release toxins into the water.
Rely on water jug filtration systems, as they do not protect against the toxins.
Eat the liver, kidneys, or other organs of fish caught in the water. Be cautious about eating the other parts of the fish caught in water where blue-green algae blooms occur.
