Sudbury lifeguards help to spot blue-green algae blooms

Lifeguards at Sudbury's public beaches have been trained to spotpotentially toxic algae blooms that can hang around swimmingbeaches.

Advisorysigns that indicate a blue-green algae bloom havebeen spotted in the area are posted at a number of popular swimming beaches in Sudbury.

But the blooms move with the current, so those signs sayit is safe to swim unless a blue-green algae bloom is currently present.

To help people know whether or not to go in the water, the lifeguards at Sudbury's public beaches have received extra training on how to spot the blooms.

"We want to make sure that people are safe, but also that they can enjoy the water,"saidEmilyWelsh,leisure program supervisor for the Sudbury waterfront.

"We never want to barricade off the beach. We just simply say it is not safe to swim right now. When it goes away you will be able to go in the water."

Welsh said lifeguards have seen thebloomsmove in and out of a beach area within a matter of hours this summer. But the bloomscan also settle in for a longer period of time.

Signs will stay

Because the situation is always changing, the Sudbury and District Health Unit says blue-green algae advisorysigns at affected beaches will stay up for the rest of the swimming season.

"The bloom may move from one area to the next. So if we don't see it today, it's very possible we could see it tomorrow," said Ashley DeRocchis, an environmental support officer with the Sudbury and District Health Unit.

"That is why the messaging is, if you see the bloom, do not swim. If you don't see a bloom, assume that the water is safe to use for recreational purposes."

DeRocchis saidif a bloom is preventing swimming at one beach on Ramsey Lake, often people can move to another beach and still get a chance to use the water.

Contact with blue-green algae can irritate the skin and eyes and, if it is ingested in larger quantities, it can cause more severehealth problems, including nervous system damage.

Dogs can be at particular risk for health affects if they spend time in water containing a blue-green algae bloom.

Greater Sudbury's blue-green algae Q&A