Warmer Temperatures – Stay Safe Around Saskatchewan Lakes this Summer
The Water Security Agency (WSA) is advising that rising temperatures can cause patches of harmful blue-green algae to appear in our province’s lakes and reservoirs. To ensure your safety, and that of pets and livestock, WSA and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health are advising the public to avoid direct contact, and consumption of any surface water where blue-green algae blooms are occurring.
Pet owners and livestock producers are also advised to keep their animals away from suspected blooms.
Potentially harmful algae blooms are heavy concentrations of blue-green algae that often give the water a shimmering, foamy and pea soup like appearance. The blooms may be blue-green, bright blue, grey or tan in colour. Warm temperatures can result in the quick formation of algal blooms.
Algal blooms commonly occur during calm, hot weather in areas of lakes and reservoirs with shallow, slow moving or still water that has sufficient nutrients. The blooms can last up to three weeks and can be pushed around the lake or reservoir by the wind.