A smelly, green glob that has the potential to poison water has made a home on a portion of Pigeon Lake, prompting the health unit to issue a water advisory for residents that draw from the lake’s north-end.

The Ministry of the Environment has confirmed the presence of cyanobacteria, which is often refereed to as blue-green algae, the Peterborough County-City Health Unit said Wednesday.

The bacteria, a naturally occurring phenomena in fresh water that is not new to the Kawarthas, was identified south of Bobcaygeon near the dam on Little Bob Channel, one of two channels that connects Pigeon Lake to nearby Sturgeon Lake.

Blue-green algae has the potential of producing toxins in the water when decaying or disturbed.

“It smells like freshly mowed grass if it’s fresh and if it’s decaying it smells like rotten garbage,” explained public health inspector Chris Eaton.

Anyone on the northern portion of the lake that uses the lake water for any purpose should find an alternative source until the ministry determines the bacteria poses no risk, Eaton said.

Dogs and pets should also be kept from entering the water, the health unit said.

The health unit cannot give people a time frame for the water warning, nor can anything be done to get rid of the bacteria, he said.

“It goes away by itself. There is really nothing you can do to speed it along,” he said.

Boiling the bacteria or using chlorine only makes the bacteria release more toxins, Eaton warned.

“Anything you do to it makes it worse,” he said.

But the bacteria generally only thrives in warmer water, he said, so with winter coming, it shouldn’t last long.

Eaton didn’t know how many residents would be affected by the drinking advisory.

“I don’t know exactly the number of people,” he said. “There are a certain number of cottages and houses along there. Some may be seasonal and some would have wells and some would draw from the lake.”

The advisory does not affect people who use municipal water systems or residents that draw water from drilled wells that are not affected by surface water.

Drinking water poisoned by the toxins might result in headaches, fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Using water tainted by the bacteria to bathe or shower could cause rashes, swollen lips, eye irritation, earache, sore throat and asthma.

via Water warning issued for north end of Pigeon Lake – Peterborough Examiner – Ontario, CA.