Is this Algae Bloom Dangerous?
Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), also known as blue-green algae or cyanobacteria, are a very serious issue impacting the safety of our waterways. Exposure to HABs can be life-threatening for people and pets. However, the toxicity of an algal bloom cannot be confirmed with a visual inspection. Suspected HABs must be sampled and tested at a lab to confirm the species of algae present. Once the species is confirmed, a management plan can be implemented.
The late summer months often come with an increase in algal blooms in our waterways. Although not all algae are toxic, we must be mindful and diligent about limiting our exposure to algal blooms.
According to the Illinois EPA, harmful algal blooms can look like blue or green paint spilled into the water, thick puffy blue or green foam on the surface of the water, or swirling colors beneath the surface of the water. Harmful algal blooms can also have distinct smells, and have been described as grassy, fishy, or septic.
Here are four things to do – or not do! – if you see anything that looks like blue-green algae in a water source:
Learn more about waterbody management:
Want to speak to someone on the Aquatics team about our experience with managing Harmful Algal Blooms? Contact us here.
