Tests of Ruscom River blue-green algae bloom produce results deemed safe, health unit says

Recent tests on a blue-green algae bloom in the Ruscom River produced results deemed to be safe, the Windsor Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) said on Wednesday.

But people should still avoid discoloured water or water with scum on the surface.

"Blue-green algae can turn toxin production on and off in response to different environmental factors," the health unit said in a news release.

"The WECHU continues to remind residents to avoid contact with water that is discoloured or has scum on the surface," it said.

"If contact does occur, wash the skin with soap and water or rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove potential harmful substances."

The health unit issued a notice on Monday advising people who use wells or cisterns that draw water directly from the Ruscom River in the area of Trepanier Road and Lakeshore Road 129 — such as people who have private cottages with wells — not to drink the water unless they are routinely testing for microcystins using a licensed lab and results show levels less than 1.5 parts per billion.

Residents on the municipal drinking water system can continue to drink the water, the health unit said.

The health unit advises anyone who lives near an area where a bloom is present in a lake to follow these safety measures:

• Do not drink or use the water for food preparation, including infant formula.

• Use an alternate source of safe drinking water, such as bottled water, for the duration of the bloom.

• Do not boil and drink water that may contain blue-green algae because toxins are not destroyed by boiling, and boiling may increase toxins.

• Do not swim and avoid water sports where a bloom is present.

• Do not allow children and pets to play in the water or drink lake water during a blue-green algae bloom. If the level of toxin is high, they may suffer serious health risks, including death.