Officials are warning against swimming in or drinking the water at Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park after a blue-green algae bloom was confirmed.
On Saturday, Dec. 5, the Capital Regional District (CRD) and Island Health announced the discovery of the toxic algae growth in the Saanich lakes and advised against any water-based activities. Blue-green algae can produce cyanotoxins which can cause health complications for people – including headaches and abdominal pain – and can be lethal to pets.
The CRD says the algae typically appears as a blue-green surface scum on the water though the blooms can still be toxic when the scum isn’t visible.
Blue-Green Algae Bloom at Beaver Lake – There is a visible blue-green algae bloom at Beaver Lake. People and pets should avoid swimming in the lake. https://t.co/jDwthzrTQT #crdalert
— CRD (@crd_bc) December 5, 2020
For updates on the status of the algae bloom, visit crd.bc.ca/alerts or follow @crd_bc on Twitter.
READ ALSO: CRD looks to deal with deteriorating water quality of Elk/Beaver Lake in Saanich
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