Team ‘cautiously optimistic’ Hawrelak Park will be ready for triathlon

EDMONTON — A team of experts has taken steps to remove blue-green algae from Hawrelak Park Lake, which is part of the ITU World Triathlon race in Edmonton Sept. 5-6.

The city revealed Wednesday that a blue-green algae bloom was discovered in the man-made lake.

“The best action to take was to try to physically move the blue-green algae to the very south portion of the lake and then to initiate some chlorination,” said Rob Smyth, the city’s manager of recreation facilities.

“We mobilized a team… We put a couple of boats in the lake and we put a boom in between the two boats and basically dragged as much of the blue-green algae to the south portion of the lake as possible.”

Smyth said the crew installed a barricade between that area and the area where athletes will be swimming.

Later on Thursday, the lake was chlorinated. A second round of chlorination took place Friday morning and a third was scheduled for Friday afternoon.

“Visually, the lake looks much, much more clear,” said Smyth. “The words that we’re tending to use are ‘cautiously optimistic.'”

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Testing will continue over the weekend and the city will provide another update on the lake’s condition Monday.

READ MORE: Hawrelak Park Lake under blue-green algae bloom advisory 

“Our first principles have not changed,” said Don Lowry, chair of the ITU World Triathlon Edmonton. “The only races we run are safe races for the athletes, for the participants, for the spectators.”

“Our optimism is gradually growing here. The steps that have been taken, the measures, the qualifications, the experts that we have on it are first-hand. Everything that can be done is being done and early days, it looks good.”

The race is scheduled to take place Sept. 5-6. Approximately 1,000 people are set to take part. Lowry doesn’t think the algae issue has caused athletes to back out.

“Not at all. Life has to plan of the worst of all eventualities. This isn’t the first time in this sport that this type of thing has happened.

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“These athletes, their organizers are accustomed to life throwing surprises; everything from airlines, to bikes, to equipment, to weather,” said Lowry.

The team will make a final decision on the condition of the lake for the race by next Friday.