Special to Lake Okeechobee News
MOORE HAVEN — The Florida Department of Health in Glades has issued a Health Alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in Lake Okeechobee. This is in response to water samples taken on April 2, 2024.
The public should exercise caution in and around two locations of Lake Okeechobee. One area is located to the southeast of Dupree Bar and the other area is located northeast of Indian Prairie Canal.
Both of the samples were below the standard set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for drinking water. The L005 sample had 0.26 parts per billion (ppb) microcystin toxin. The POLESOUT sample had 0.39 ppb microcystin.
The EPA considers levels below 1.0 ppb as safe for drinking water and levels below 8.0 ppb safe for human recreational contact (swimming).
You cannot tell what type of algae or cyanobacteria (commonly called blue-green algae) may be present or whether or not toxins are present by just looking at a bloom. The public is advised to be wary of any visible algal bloom.
Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions:
• Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft, water ski or boat in waters where there is a visible bloom.
• Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have contact with algae or discolored or smelly water.
• Keep pets away from the area. Waters where there are algae blooms are not safe for animals. Pets and livestock should have a different source of water when algae blooms are present.
• Do not cook or clean dishes with water contaminated by algae blooms. Boiling the water will not eliminate the toxins.
• Eating fillets from healthy fish caught in freshwater lakes experiencing blooms is safe. Rinse fish fillets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts and cook fish well.
• Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms.
What is blue-green algae?
Blue-green algae are a type of bacteria that is common in Florida’s freshwater environments. A bloom occurs when rapid growth of algae leads to an accumulation of individual cells that discolor water and often produce floating mats that may emit unpleasant odors.
Some environmental factors that contribute to blue-green algae blooms are sunny days, warm water temperatures, still water conditions and excess nutrients. Blooms can appear year-round but are more frequent in summer and fall. Many types of blue-green algae can produce toxins.
Is it harmful?
Most blue-green algae are not capable of producing toxins. Those capable of producing toxins may not always do so. However, when they do produce toxins blue-green algae blooms can impact human health and ecosystems, including fish and other aquatic animals.
Find current information about Florida’s water quality status and public health notifications for harmful algal blooms and beach conditions by visiting ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov. Protecting Florida Together is the state’s joint effort to provide statewide water quality information to prioritize environmental transparency and commitment to action.
What do I do if I see an algal bloom?
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection collects and analyzes algal bloom samples. To report a bloom to DEP, call the toll-free hotline at 855-305-3903 or report online.
To report fish kills, contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute at 1-800-636-0511.
Report symptoms from exposure to a harmful algal bloom or any aquatic toxin to the Florida Poison Information Center, call 1-800-222-1222 to speak to a poison specialist immediately.
Contact your veterinarian if you believe your pet has become ill after consuming or having contact with blue-green algae contaminated water.
