Harmful Algal Blooms have been common in recent years during the latter half of the summer on lakes within Seneca County.
The Seneca County Health Department encourages the community and visitors to Know It, Avoid It and Report It.
Know It
Weather influences where harmful algae blooms will occur. During extended periods of calm and sunny days, blooms can accumulate at the surface in any location. Wind and waves may cause them to form along shorelines or in protected areas. Shifts in wind direction can move a bloom from one location to another. Periods of cool rainy weather can often lead to the disappearance of a bloom.
It might be a blue-green algae bloom in surface water if you see:
- Strongly colored water (blue-green, green, yellow, white, brown, purple, or red).
- Paint-like appearance.
- Floating mats or scums.
Avoid It
Always stay away from blooms in surface waters.
- Never swim, fish, boat, or wade in areas with blooms.
- Never eat fish caught from areas with blooms.
- Never drink, prepare food, cook, or make ice with untreated or improperly treated individual surface water supplies.
- Rinse with clean water if you, your family or pets have contact with blooms.
If you are not on a public water supply and are using surface water:
- Bloom or no bloom, never drink, prepare food, or make ice with untreated surface water. You may also consider not using it for washing, especially if it looks cloudy.
- During a bloom, don’t drink, prepare food, or make ice with surface water, even if you treat the water yourself.
- Boiling water will not remove blue-green algae or their toxins.
If you are on public water:
- Your water is treated, disinfected and monitored for drinking and household use
Report It
If you think that a bloom may be harmful, report it through the New York State’s new online HABs map and reporting system.
For Cayuga Lake, report blooms through the Cayuga Lake HABs Reporting Page | Community Science Institute
Symptoms or health concerns related to HABs can be reported to the Seneca County Health Department at 315-539-1945.
