BELWOOD: According to the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) a presence of suspected blue-green algae has been spotted by the boat launch in the Belwood Lake Conservation Area reservoir.
The GRCA said The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) have been notified.
Hot, summer conditions are typically ideal for blue-green algae to bloom in large bodies of water.
In areas where blue-green algae is visible the GRCA and WDGPH both say to avoid using the water; do not swim, drink, bathe or handle water with suspected blooms of the algae.
The GRCA also said do not eat fish from the lake, do not allow pets into the lake and take extra caution when boating.
WDGPH said when the algae congregates it forms a bloom which can release dangerous toxins.
There is no way to visually confirm if an algae bloom is toxic; making the assumption that any bloom can harbour toxins is a recommended safety precaution from WDGPH.
According to Public Health symptoms of blue-green algae toxicity in humans can include:
- Itchy, irritated eyes and skin
- Headaches, fever, diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting
- More serious effects such as liver damage may occur when large amounts are ingested
They also note that children aged six and under are particularly vulnerable.
The GRCA said blue-green algae blooms have historically occurred in the area including Belwood Lake, Conestogo Lake, Guelph Lake and Woolwich reservoirs as well as Snyder’s Flats.
“When an algal bloom starts to grow, a noticeable green or brown scum will form on the surface of water bodies and the water look like green or bluish-green pea soup,” the GRCA said in a press release, “once blue-green algae are in full bloom, it may look like spilled ‘paint’ along the shoreline. A new blue-green algal bloom often smells like fresh cut grass, while an older bloom can smell like rotting garbage.”
Both the GRCA and WDGPH said algae thrives of nutrients commonly found in agricultural runoff.
