Potential Blue-Green Algae Bloom at Beavermead and Rogers Cove Public Beaches
Written by Comms Team, July 14, 2023
Peterborough Public Health is advising residents that two beaches in the City of Peterborough, Beavermead Park Beach (2011 Ashburnham Drive, Peterborough) and Rogers Cove Beach (131 Maria Street, Peterborough), will be closed until further notice due to the observation of possible harmful blue-green algae blooms.
“On Friday July 14, our staff observed the suspect harmful algal blooms while preparing to collect routine beach water samples,” said Julie Ingram, Manager of Environmental Health for Peterborough Public Health. “We immediately notified the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Spills Action Centre and have received confirmation that the MECP will sample the blooms today. In addition, we have notified the City of Peterborough who are supporting the beach closures,” said Ingram.
Blue-green algae are a type of bacteria, called cyanobacteria, that are known for rapidly reproducing and collecting to form large, highly visible blooms throughout the water column, on the surface of water as a scum, or on the lake bottom as a mat. Some species of cyanobacteria can also release poisons, called cyanobacterial toxins, when the cells that make up the bloom rupture or die.
While the blooms have not yet been confirmed as harmful, Peterborough Public Health has temporarily closed the beaches for swimming as a precaution, while awaiting further testing. Many forms of blue-green algae are harmless, but some types produce toxins which can be hazardous for both people and animals. Exposure to toxins through activities like drinking, swimming and bathing can cause various symptoms including itchy, irritated eyes and skin; rash; headache; fever; diarrhea; abdominal pain; nausea; and vomiting. Some individuals may have no reaction. Pets should not be allowed to enter water with suspect or confirmed harmful algae blooms as they may consume large amounts of contaminated water, resulting in sickness or death. The risk to humans is primarily from drinking water that has been contaminated with toxins from a dense harmful algae bloom. Long-term consumption of water containing high levels of cyanobacterial toxins may cause neurological or liver problems.
Currently, there is no known risk to the City of Peterborough’s municipal drinking water supply.
To report a suspect blue-green algae bloom, residents are advised to contact MECP Spills Action Centre at
1-800-268-6060.
If algae blooms are visible:
- Do not use the water for drinking, food preparation, bathing, showering, or swimming use.
- Do not allow children, pets, or livestock to swim in the water or drink the water.
- If skin contact does occur, wash with soap and water or rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove the algae.
- Do not boil the water. Boiling will not remove the toxins and may release more of the toxin into the water.
- Residents should avoid cooking with the water because food may absorb toxins from the water during cooking.
- Home treatment systems for water may not remove toxins and may become clogged, thereby failing to remove the risk.
- Do not treat the water with a disinfectant such as chlorine bleach. This action may break open algal cells and release toxins into the water.
For more information on blue-green algae, and precautions to be taken before swimming in or consuming water where there has been an algae bloom, visit Peterborough Public Health’s Blue-Green Algae webpage at
www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca/blue-green-algae/.
-30-
For further information, please contact:
Media Relations
media@peterboroughpublichealth.ca