Halifax blue green algae

A veterinary hospital in Halifax says a dog's recent death was connected to exposure to blue-green algae at Long Lake in Hammonds Plains.

Notification: Municipal statement regarding de-designated locations. Over the past several weeks, the municipality has been taking a number of steps to provide supports to those experiencing homelessness in our region, and particularly to those sleeping rough in de-designated locations. Harmful Algal Blooms may look like green dots on the surface of the water. Photo Credit: Department of Environmental Conservation. New York State. Harmful Algal Blooms may look like parallel streaks. Harmful Algal Blooms may look like paint.

Halifax blue green algae

The municipality wants to help Haligonians identify the potentially harmful bacteria and learn about the risks for their pets and children. Elizabeth Montgomery, water resources specialist with HRM, gave reporters a primer on blue green algae. They like warm water, meaning climate change is likely to lead to more cyanobacteria. Blooms can also look like pollen or even an oil spill. The difference is that the blue green algae is under water too, whereas pollen and oil sit on the surface. There could be blue green algae blooms happening in more remote lakes too. The bacteria has killed at least eight dogs in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in the last 10 years, Montgomery said. That includes one confirmed death this year at Long Lake in Hammonds Plains. In , two dogs died after ingesting blue green algae on Fish Lake, next to Grand Lake. The mats are something scientists in Nova Scotia have only really been learning about over the last two years.

The presence of blooms triggers monitoring since toxins are only formed if there are blooms.

Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first. If you get Global News from Instagram or Facebook - that will be changing. Find out how you can still connect with us. A lake can seem beautiful and harmless from a distance, but on the surface of the water could lie dangerous blue-green algae. Also known as cyanobacteria, algae can look like grass clippings floating around the water, or even spilled paint. Elizabeth Kennedy, director of Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change water programs, says algae can have serious health effects.

Blue-green algae occurs in all parts of Nova Scotia and once it appears in a body of water, it will bloom again when the conditions are right. Nova Scotia is likely to see more blooms with increasing climate change and incidences of extreme heat and precipitation. Nova Scotia's Department of Environment and Climate Change posts a list of potential blue-green algae blooms online and shares reports on social media. The province's website on blue-green algae says it can appear turquoise, green, brown, red, white or a mix of these colours. It says blooms can "look like fine grass clippings in the water, spilled paint or pea soup," and can sometimes appear as a thick scum on the surface.

Halifax blue green algae

A water resources specialist on HRM's environment and climate change team says the cyanobacteria are naturally occurring in Nova Scotia's lakes and rivers, but officials have seen an increase in the number of blooms in recent years. People are being encouraged to avoid swimming in and taking their pets near the lake until further notice. Montgomery said staff are constantly monitoring the water quality at all of HRM's 18 supervised beaches throughout July and August, so if a beach is open, she's confident the water is safe for swimming.

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We can have sustainable development along waterways that have appropriate vegetative buffers and runoff management that absorb nutrients etc. The risk advisory will be lifted if toxins are within safe limits. If you receive tap water from Halifax Water, you can use the map below to see where your water comes from. Notification: Municipal statement regarding de-designated locations Open Close. Animals are attracted to their odour and may try to eat them. Experts have looked back at sediment cores and seen that these lakes have been low nutrient environments for hundreds to thousands of years. Posted July 13, pm. They often smell musty or grassy when healthy, and they can smell like ammonia when decomposing. If a suspected blue-green bloom is observed at one of our supervised beaches, the beach is closed immediately and water samples are analyzed for toxins. In large quantities, some types of blue-green algae produce toxins , which can be harmful to humans and animals. Though it is difficult to predict whether a bloom will form, most type of blue-green algae blooms require nutrient-rich waters to grow quickly. People don't usually drink water contaminated with blue-green algae because of the scum and smell.

The municipality wants to help Haligonians identify the potentially harmful bacteria and learn about the risks for their pets and children.

Updates can also be found at www. That could be action from residents, or government intervention like climate action, land-use zoning, and reducing run-off from roads. Harmful Algal Blooms may look like paint. The presence of blooms triggers monitoring since toxins are only formed if there are blooms. Close X. If no alternate safe source of water is available, then you may use contaminated water for washing laundry or dishes. Zane Woodford. Commonly, blooms can smell like newly mown grass, or rotting garbage. Please read our Commenting Policy first. The time for water to recover to its normal state varies by bloom based on local conditions. Risk Advisories It is very difficult to predict if blooms will form. Reports of blue-green algae are for the whole season May to October. The dog died on the way to the emergency hospital around two hours after leaving the water.