Potential Blue-Green Algae Bloom in McQuaby Lake

The Health Unit wishes to advise residents and visitors that a species of toxin producing Cyanobacteria (blue- green algae) was detected from a water sample collected at McQuaby Lake in the Nipissing Township.

The detected level of toxin (present at 0.05 ug/L) was below the standard for drinking water (1.5 ug/L).

This means the water is still safe to use. However, due to the constantly changing nature of Cyanobacteria, the level of toxin may increase with a change in conditions and make it unsafe for human consumption or recreational use.

Please report any algae bloom to the Ministry of the Environment at 1-800-268-6060 for further follow-up.

The Health Unit advises if you see an algae bloom, you should not drink the water and do not:

 Bath or shower in the lake water.

 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.

After microcystins have been detected in a body of water, staff at the Health Unit and/or the District Office of the Ministry of the Environment cannot knowingly tell when it is safe to use for private water systems. 

You can find more information about Blue-Green Algae at myhealthunit.ca.

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.