Press Release
RCDHU
The Renfrew County and District Health Unit (RCDHU), Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) and the Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks (MECP) investigated the discovery of a plant-like substance floating on and around the shore at Muskrat Lake. The substance is suspected to be a blue-green algae bloom. Results from a water sample taken by MECP are pending to determine if the substance is a harmful algae bloom. OCWA is also regularly sampling at the Cobden water treatment plant to ensure the drinking water is safe to consume.
Blue-green algae blooms are a natural seasonal phenomenon that may appear in lakes, rivers and ponds. Some species have the potential to produce toxins which may be harmful to people and animals. Toxins are released into the water when the algae cells are damaged or begin to decay. Direct contact with the toxin can cause skin irritation and if ingested in higher concentrations, may result in vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and abdominal pain.
The health unit recommends that people using Muskrat Lake, or any waterbody for recreational or drinking water purposes, should become familiar with blue-green algae so they can make informed decisions about using the water. Although algae blooms degrade with time, the length of time potential toxins remain in the area is dependent upon local water movement characteristics.
RCDHU advises people using Muskrat Lake to be on the lookout for algae blooms. If a bloom is visible, please take the following precautions:
• Avoid direct contact with the bloom.
• Avoid using the water in the vicinity of a bloom for drinking, bathing or showering and do not allow children, pets or livestock to drink or swim in the water.
• Boiling the water for drinking purposes should be avoided because boiling may release more toxins into the water.
• Toxins that may be released by blue-green algae are not removed by small scale residential treatment systems such as filtration, chlorination or ultraviolet light disinfection. Surface water is never a safe source of drinking water without effective treatment.
• Residents should not rely on water jug filtration systems as they do not protect against the toxins.
• Avoid cooking with the water because foods may absorb the toxin during the cooking process.
• Caution should be exercised with respect to eating fish caught in water where blue-green algae blooms have occurred. Avoid eating the liver, kidneys and other organs of fish caught in the water.
• On lakes and rivers where blue-green algae blooms are confirmed and visible, people who use the surface water for their private drinking water supply should consider an alternate, protected source of water.
RCDHU will continue to monitor the water conditions on Muskrat Lake. As of July 4, there were no known algae blooms detected by health unit staff.
For more information, please visit the Ministry of the Environment Parks and Conservation website at http://www.ontario.ca/environment-and-energy/blue-green-algae or RCDHU’s website at https://www.rcdhu.com/healthy-living/safe-water/.
Press Release
Township of Whitewater Region
The Township of Whitewater Region is working closely with Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA), Renfrew County and District Health Unit (RCDHU), and the Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks (MECP) as a result of a suspected Blue-Green Algae (BGA) bloom observation on Muskrat Lake.
Sampling and testing are currently underway, in partnership with the noted agencies, and results are expected in the coming days.
Out of an abundance of caution, the Township will be closing the Cobden Beach to swimming and recreational purposes until results are received. Accordingly, signage will be placed at the beach.
The Township’s drinking water system operator, Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) collects water samples for Blue-Green Algae (BGA) weekly in the raw water intake and treatment protocols at the Cobden Water Treatment Plant are in place. Please note that although blue-green algae may have been detected in the lake, no BGA have been found in the municipal drinking water and is still safe to drink. There is no public health risk for residents of Cobden who are on the municipal drinking water system.
As expressed in the Renfrew County District Health Unit media release, “blue-green algae blooms are a natural seasonal phenomenon that may appear in lakes, rivers and ponds” and “some species have the potential to produce toxins which may be harmful to people and animals.”
The RCDHU “recommends that people using Muskrat Lake … for recreational or drinking water purposes, should become familiar with blue-green algae so they can make informed decisions about using the water.”
Additional advisory information are noted in today’s Renfrew County and District Health Unit’s media release – Blue-Green Algae Bloom Found—Muskrat Lake.
Also, refer to MECP website for more information on blue-green algae – https://www.ontario.ca/page/blue-green-algae and the Township’s Website: https://www.whitewaterregion.ca/services/environmental/drinking-water-systems/
