Advisory for Whalley Lake, Ontario

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Whalley Lake

Type: Cyanobacteria Bloom  -  Inactive

Issued: 6/29/2016

Details:

The North Bay Health Unit advises that a bloom of toxin producing blue-green algae has been detected on Whalley Lake in the Municipality of Magnetawan. 

Residents and visitors near this area need to take the following precautions:


If you use a private water system, do not use water from the lake for drinking, cooking and bathing. 

Boiling the water or using home water treatment devices will NOT destroy the toxins.

Avoid swimming or other water sport activities that could increase the risk of algae material and toxins contacting your skin or being swallowed.

Do not allow pets or livestock to swim in the water or drink the water.

Some toxins produced by cyanobacteria accumulate in the tissues of fish and shellfish, particularly in the guts including the liver, kidney, etc. 

We do not know if the toxins accumulated in fish would be a concern. 

It depends on how much you eat and how severe the cyanobacteria bloom. 

Be careful if you eat fish caught in water where cyanobacteria blooms occur. 

Do not eat the liver, kidneys and other organs of fish caught. 
Do not cut the organs when filleting.