With warm temperatures and sunny skies this summer, the Water Security Agency (WSA) is reminding the public to be cautious around blue-green algae in lakes and reservoirs.
Blue-green algae naturally occur in lakes and reservoirs across Saskatchewan, appearing as their namesake blue-green, bright blue, gray, or tan groupings. The bacteria is most likely to appear during calm, hot weather in lakes and reservoirs with shallow, slow-moving, or still water.
Whielt he temperature rises, blue-green algae can accumulate and appear as surface scum with a shimmering, foamy, or pea soup-like appearance. In Saskatchewan's southern lakes, blue-green algae can be a particular menace.
For those who work with livestock, blue-green algae is something to watch carefully for in dugouts and other still water sources, as that can cause serious harm to those livestock.
Anyone who notices these signs is told to avoid direct contact with water where algae blooms are occurring. If contact occurs, they should wash the affected area with tap water as soon as possible.
People should not swim or allow their pets to swim in the area, feed whole fish or fish trimmings from the lake to their pets, and limit or eliminate human consumption of fish organs or shellfish caught in the lake.
Symptoms of direct contact or unintended consumption of algae-contaminated water include red skin, sore throat, cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Anyone with health-related questions about blue-green algae is asked to contact their local Saskatchewan Health Authority environmental health office.
For more information on public beaches in Saskatchewan, the province refers people to their Healthy Beaches Program updates, with another scheduled for this month.