For Immediate Release
Tuesday, July 23, 2024| 6:00 p.m. |Windsor and Essex County
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) is issuing a precautionary notice to residents based on visual confirmation of a blue-green algae bloom on Lake St. Clair in the area near Stoney Point. Test results to confirm the presence of a bloom are pending. Residents on the municipal drinking water system can drink the water, unless they are notified otherwise. Routine water testing is done by the municipal water treatment plant.
For Owners of Wells and Cisterns
Residents that use wells or cisterns that draw water directly from Lake St. Clair (such as private cottages with wells) are advised not to drink the water unless they are routinely testing for microcystins using a licensed lab and results show levels less than 1.5 ppb. This is recommended for adults and children 6 years of age and older, their pets, and livestock animals. Children under age 6 should only drink bottled or municipal water. For all infant feeding preparation, only bottled or municipal drinking water should be used after boiling.
Beaches
If the water looks cloudy or like green paint or pea soup, swimming is not recommended.
Do not allow pets to drink lake water during a blue-green algae bloom as they may suffer serious health risks including death.
Health Risks
The most common toxins produced during a blue-green algae bloom are called microcystins. Those most “at-risk” are children 6 years of age and younger. Contact with microcystins can produce the following negative health effects in humans:
Skin Contact
Itchy, irritated eyes and skin if you swim, bathe, or shower in contaminated water.
Swallowed
Small quantities - headaches, fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Large quantities - more serious health effects may occur such as liver damage.
For more information on blue-green algae blooms, please visit the Health Unit website at https://www.wechu.org/drinking-water-small-drinking-water-systems-beaches/blue-green-algae-bloom.