Bullshead Reservoir has blue-green algae
By Gillian Slade on August 2, 2018.
Medicine Hat News Bullshead Reservoir in Cypress County is experiencing blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) bloom. Residents near this lake, and visitors to this lake, are advised to take the following precautions, says Alberta Health Services. Avoid all contact with the blue-green algae. If you do inadvertently make contact, wash with tap water as soon as possible. Do not swim or wade in this water and do not allow pets in the water where blue-green algae is visible. Do not feed your pets fish from this lake. AHS suggests limiting human consumption of fish from the lake because toxins are stored in the liver’s of fish. It is safe to consume fish fillets from this lake though. Never drink or cook with untreated water directly from any recreational body of water, including Bullshead Reservoir, at any time. Boiling of this water does not remove the toxins produced by this algae, says AHS in a press release. An alternate source of drinking water should also be provided for pets and livestock, while this advisory is active. Blue-green algae occurs naturally and generally becomes visible when weather conditions are calm. It tends to look like scum, grass clippings, fuzz or globs on the surface of the water. The colour can be blue-green, greenish-brown, brown, and/or pinkish-red. It often has a musty or grassy smell. Areas of the lake where the algae is not visible can still be used for recreational purposes. Those who make contact with the blue-green algae, or ingest water containing blue-green algae, could develop skin irritation, a rash, sore throat, sore red eyes, swollen lips, fever, nausea and vomiting and/or diarrhea. Symptoms often appear within one to three hours and are resolved in one to two days. Symptoms in children are often more significant. Weather and wind conditions can cause algae blooms to move from one location in the lake to another. As such, this advisory will remain in effect for Bullshead Reservoir, until further notice. If you suspect a problem related to blue-green algae or if you require further information on health concerns and blue-green algae, please call Health Link at 811. Additional information is available online: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/news/bga.aspx. 15-14
