Algae can be a hazard in the Bay of Quinte

By Tyson Leonard

Swimmers and cattle need to watch out for blue-green algae in the Bay of Quinte this summer.

“If you come in contact with it you may get a skin rash, and mucous membrane irritation,” said Andrew Landy, senior public health inspector at the Hastings and Prince Edward county health unit.

If you were to drink water infected by the algae it could cause headaches, nausea, vomiting, and if you were to drink enough even death, said Landy.

“Typically that wouldn’t occur because you wouldn’t drink it. The water wouldn’t aesthetically be very appealing,” said Landy.

Pets and cattle aren’t as touchy about their drinking water though. If they were to drink enough of the infected water it could cause serious health issues, including death.

Blue-green algae are a natural species that appears in freshwater all over the world, including the Bay of Quinte. It usually appears during late summer and early fall.

Both the Ministry of the Environment and the local health unit have received no reports of blue-green algae in the Bay of Quinte so far this summer.

Landy said Belleville’s drinking water is safe from any contamination by blue-green algae.

“Any of the water treatment systems for municipal supplies are all capable and all deal adequately if they encounter blue-green algae in their source water,” said Landy.

Systems at residences supplied by private surface water sources are not always able to deal with blue-green algae.

“If you know you have blue-green algae in the area, at those times you would provide yourself with another source of water,” said Landy.

Unfortunately it’s difficult to identify the exact strain of blue-green algae that is toxic, said Landy.

“There is no way you can tell by looking. Even the experts would have difficulty,” he said.

Landy said it usually looks something like green paint spilled in the water.

Be aware and be informed, said Landy. If you see something you think could be blue-green algae, avoid it.

Some areas are more likely to have blue-green algae than others.

“(Blue-green algae) depends on a number of specific conditions; calm water, high temperatures, and also elevated nutrient levels,” said Michel Finn, senior regional communications advisor at the Ministry of the Environment.

Some of the nutrients the algae feeds on include household fertilizer and agricultural runoff that has reached a source of water.

“We are working with Environment Canada and the local Quinte conservation Authority to better understand the situation in the Bay of Quinte,” said Finn.

Finn said the Ministry of the Environment is working to better predict where and when blue-green algae will bloom.