BONNYVILLE - Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, has been identified in the waters of Kehiwin Lake, which is located between Elk Point and Bonnyville.
Visitors to this lake are advised to take precautions to avoid contact with the algae blooms. If contact does occur, wash with clean tap water as soon as possible.
In a health advisory sent out on Aug. 6, Alberta Health Services (AHS) recommends people and pets stay away from areas where cyanobacteria is visible.
"Do not feed whole fish or fish trimmings from this lake to your pets," and, "Consider limiting human consumption of whole fish and fish trimmings from this lake, as it is known that fish may store toxins in their liver. People can safely consume fish fillets from this lake."
People are reminded that they should never drink or cook with untreated water that comes directly from any recreational body of water.
"Boiling of this water will not remove the toxins produced by cyanobacteria. An alternate source of drinking water should also be provided for pets and livestock while this advisory is active," according to AHS.
"Cyanobacteria is naturally occurring and often becomes visible when weather conditions are calm. Appearing like scum, grass clippings, fuzz or globs on the surface of water, cyanobacteria can be blue-green, greenish-brown, brown and/or pinkish-red, and often smell musty or grassy."
