Albertans have been asked to avoid Matchayaw (Devil’s) Lake — about 60 km west of Edmonton — after a cyanobacterial (blue-green algal) bloom and/or toxins were identified in the water.
Alberta Health Services issued the notice Tuesday, listing several precautions.
Do not swim or wade in any areas where cyanobacterial blooms are visible.
Avoid all contact with cyanobacterial blooms in the water and washed up on shore. Wash with clean tap water as soon as possible if contact occurs.
Do not drink or cook with water from this lake.
Do not eat whole fish or fish trimmings from this lake as fish may store toxins in their liver. Fish fillets contain less toxins and are safer to eat.
Keep pets away from the water. Do not allow pets to swim in areas where cyanobacterial blooms are visible or to contact blooms in the water or on the shore.
Do not feed whole fish or fish trimmings from this lake to your pets.
“Cyanobacteria are naturally occurring and large growths called ‘blooms’ are more common during warm weather. Cyanobacterial blooms can be blue-green, greenish-brown, brown, pink and/or red, and can look like scum, streaks, grass clippings, fuzz balls, paint or pea soup. They often smell musty or grassy,” read a statement from AHS.
“People who come in contact with a cyanobacterial bloom or who ingest water containing cyanobacteria may experience skin irritation, rash, sore throat, sore red eyes, swollen lips, fever, nausea and vomiting and/or diarrhea. Symptoms can appear within one to three hours and resolve in one to two days. Symptoms in children are often more pronounced; however, all people are at risk of these symptoms. Exposure to cyanobacteria may be fatal to pets.”
AHS has also warned residents and visitors to never drink or cook with untreated water directly from any body of water, including Matchayaw (Devil’s) Lake, at any time, noting that boiling the water will not remove the toxins from cyanobacteria.
Anyone who may suspect a problem related to cyanobacteria or who may have any other health concerns is asked to call Health Link at 811.
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