Alberta Health Services (AHS) has identified cyanobacterial (blue-green algae) in Pigeon Lake.
Residents living near the shores of the lake, and visitors are advised to take the following precautions:
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Avoid all contact with cyanobacterial blooms. If contact occurs, wash with tap water as soon as possible.
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Do not swim, wade, allow pets to swim or wade in any areas where cyanobacteria is visible.
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Do not feed whole fish or fish trimmings from this lake to pets.
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Consider limiting human consumption of whole fish and fish trimmings from this lake, as it is known that fish may store toxins in their liver.
Residents and visitors are reminded to never drink or cook with untreated water directly from any recreational body of water.
Boiling the water will not remove the toxins produced by the algae. An alternate source of drinking water should be provided for pets and livestock while the advisory is active.
Blue-green algae is naturally occurring and often becomes visible when weather conditions are calm.
Appearing like grass clippings, fuzz, or globs on the surface of water, cyanobacteria can be blue-green, greenish-brown, brown, and/or pinkish-red, and often smell musty or grassy.
People who come in contact with visible cyanobacteria or who ingest water containing cyanobacteria may experience skin irritation, fever, and nausea. Symptoms usually appear within one to three hours and resolve in one to two days. Symptoms in children are often more pronounced, but all humans are at risk of the symptoms.
Exposure to the bacteria may be fatal to pets.
Weather and wind conditions can cause algae blooms to move from one location in the lake to another.
The waters of Pigeon Lake where the cyanobacterial bloom is not visible can still be used for recreational purposes, even while the health advisory is in place.