Authorities watching local waters for potentially-toxic plant life

Be aware, but don’t be scared, authorities are saying to water lovers as the Quinte Region enters prime algae season.

Authorities are watching local waters for blue-green algae, a potentially toxic form of plant life that in 2009 resulted in warnings not to drink from or swim in the Bay of Quinte.

But it’s not cause for alarm, just caution, they say.

“We are not trying to induce mass panic,” said Andrew Landy, a senior public health inspector with the Belleville-based Hastings and Prince Edward Counties Health Unit.

If you spot what could be blue-green algae, he said, avoid using the water in any way Ñ period.

Scientific tests are required to determine the presence and content of blue-green algae. You can’t tell simply by looking at it, though there are some clues.

“It doesn’t look like other algae,” said Landy. “If you see something you think is a little unusual – if it’s beyond the scope of normal in size, distribution or colour – that’s when we want people to take steps to protect themselves.

“Not all blue-green algae blooms release toxins – so you have to assume it does.”

“We don’t need to hear of every puddle that’s got the stuff,” added Landy.

However, he said, experts do need to know about “significant” – c as in large – blooms.

Julie Munro, a surface water specialist with Quinte Conservation, explained that if it’s significant, “you’ll know because it will have that spilled-paint look.”

Landy added it isn’t necessarily blue or green; it may even be reddish.

“They do like lots of sunlight and heat and also sheltered areas and nutrient-rich waters,” said Munro. That means summer is the perfect time to find blooms.

Munro said Quinte Conservation is sampling water at several locations on a bi-weekly basis. Staff are also interested in longer-term monitoring.

Partnering with the conservation authority in the project are the health unit, Environment Canada, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan and local municipalities.

Quinte Conservation has received a total of $115,000 from federal and provincial governments to study algae this year.

Staff have posted signs at several water access points.

Again, said Munro, the intent is to make people watchful, not fearful.

“If they are concerned that it is a significant bloom then – they should be calling the Ministry of Environment Belleville office or the (ministry’s) Spills Action Centre,” said Munro.

The Belleville ministry office’s phone number is 613-962-9208. The centre’s 24-hour number is 1-800-268-6060.

If you see what may be blue-green algae, said Landy, avoid it.

“We would recommend you draw it from an alternate source,” he said. “You can’t boil it at that point because it’s not going to remove the toxin.”

Municipal water treatment systems, however, will remove it.

Landy said people should not eat the internal organs of fish drawn from affected water and should not swim, bathe or shower with the water.

“Keep your pets out, if you can,” he said. “The bloom may disappear but you may still have toxins in the water for a couple of weeks.”

Landy said officials expect to see blue-green algae locally every year and will likely issue annual public information notices.