THUNDER BAY — The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks has confirmed the presence of blue-green algae in a water sample collected from a private beach off McKenzie Beach Avenue on Lake Superior, about 10 km northeast of Thunder Bay.
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit said water should be avoided whenever a BGA bloom is present and for approximately two weeks after it has gone away.
It's also important not to drink the beach water, use it for household purposes and not to swim in it, the release said.
Pets should also be kept away from the water if possible.
BGA are microscopic organisms that are naturally present in lakes and streams.
They are usually present in low numbers but can rapidly increase in warm, shallow surface water that gets a lot of sun.
When this happens, they can form blooms that make the water look like green pea soup or turquoise paint.
The harmful algae bloom may form scum or solid-looking clumps on the water surface and produce toxins that pose a health risk to people and animals when consumed, inhaled, or from skin contact.
If contact with BGA occurs, wash with soap and water and rinse with clean water to remove the algae.
BGA blooms in lakes in the region have been relatively uncommon historically. However, with changing climate and rising water temperatures, they may become more common, the release said.
