Blue-green algae blooms have been identified at Eagle Lake and the Severn Creek Reservoir east of Calgary.
An advisory was issued Monday, just days after another was issued for Lake Sundance in Calgary’s southeast.
Alberta Health Services (AHS) said Monday that blue-green algae can cause symptoms including skin irritation, a sore throat or rash, sore red eyes, swollen lips and a fever, nausea or vomiting and diarrhea.
Symptoms usually appear within one to three hours and go away within one to two days.
WATCH BELOW: AHS changes the way it issues blue-green algae advisories
The agency is warning people along the shores of Eagle Lake and the Severn Creek Reservoir to take the following precautions:
- Avoid all contact with blue-green algae blooms. If contact occurs, wash with tap water as soon as possible.
- Do not swim or wade (or allow your pets to swim or wade) in any areas where blue-green algae is visible.
- Do not feed whole fish or fish trimmings from this reservoir to your pets and consider limiting your own consumption of whole fish and fish trimmings.
AHS said blue-green algae can look like scum, grass clippings or fuzz on the surface of the water and can be blue-green, greenish-brown, brown and/ or pinkish-red. It may smell “musty or grassy.”
LISTEN: Alberta Health Services on blue-green algae advisories in and around Calgary
AHS said Monday that people visiting the lake should never drink or cook with untreated water from any recreational body of water. It said boiling the water will not remove toxins created by the blue-green algae.
Both the lake and the reservoir can be used while the advisory is in place.
The advisory will remain in effect until further notice.