The 2014 Blue Green Algae season proved to be an active year for the residents bordering Lake Erie. It started on August 2, when 400,000 Toledo Ohio residents were told not drink the city water.
As the month of August progressed, the bloom continued to travel eastward eventually impacting Pelee Island. On August 26, Dr. Gary Kirk, AMOH and CEO, closed the beaches and issued a do not drink the water alert to the residents of Pelee Island as the levels of total microcystins (toxins from the blue green algae) were high. The municipal water system was utilized as an emergency water source for Island residents affected by the alert.
On September 9th, 2014 Dr. G. Allen Heimann MOH, lifted the beach closures and downgraded the Alert to an Advisory as the algae bloom dissipated.