Blue-green algae in Moncton's water supply

For the second year in a row, blue-green algae are being detected at Turtle Creek watershed, Greater Moncton's source for drinking water.

The bacterial organisms can produce toxins harmful to human health and fatal to pets and livestock.

This summer's presence of the gelatinous substance in the water supply is not a complete surprise, according to Nicole Taylor, director of utilities at the City of Moncton.

"The fact that you've got it, it does put you at higher risk for getting it again."

For now, the city said, the water remains safe to drink and staff continue to monitor the situation daily.

Taylor said algae tend to lie dormant over the winter, reappearing as temperatures rise.

"It's really difficult to predict."

Taylor said the city is working with two consultants to see what can be done to mitigate the problem.

"Our preference would be to try to deal with the issue in the watershed and try to prevent it from happening in future years,  but we're also looking at the potential treatment methods at the water treatment plant."

Taylor said Moncton's water treatment facility, located in Turtle Creek in Albert County, was not built to deal with algae.

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She said it was commissioned in 1999. At the time, blue-green algae had not been a problem in Moncton for decades at least, so the city wasn't concerned.

The algae this summer have been found at the Tower Road reservoir, the city's secondary water source. Most water comes from the reservoir.

The city said there are currently no blooms, which are formed when the algae are present in large quantities. The gelatinous forms can gum up the water treatment facility.