There is a bloom of blue-green algae in Bernard Lake in the Township of Strong, the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit is advising.
The sample can be found at 45.760068, -79.396497.
The following safety measures are recommended for residents and visitors near the area:
- If you use a private water system, do not use water from the lake for drinking, cooking and bathing. Boiling the water or using home water treatment devices will not destroy the toxins.
- Do not swim or do other water activities that could increase the risk of getting the toxins on your skin or in your mouth.
- Some toxins build up in the tissues of fish and shellfish, particularly in the guts and other organs. We do not know if the toxins in fish are a concern. It depends on how much you eat and how severe the bloom is. Be careful if you eat fish caught in water where blooms occur. Do not eat the liver, kidneys and other organs of fish caught. Do not cut the organs when filleting.
These safety measures should be enacted immediately. While the blue-green algae bloom may not show the presence of toxins, there is always the risk that toxins could be produced. These toxins may stay in the water for up to three weeks after the algae bloom is gone.
Even when a bloom has disappeared, toxins can persist in the water for a long time. For this reason, the Health Unit and the District Office of the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change cannot confirm when the water is safe to use for private water systems.
For more information about blue-green algae see myhealthunit.ca or call the Health Unit at 705-474-1400, ext. 2400 or 1-800-563-2808.
