Ballina Shire Council has issued a Red Alert warning for Lake Ainsworth at Lennox Head, after sampling found high levels of potentially toxic blue-green algae.
The warning was issued on Thursday, 24 September, following sampling by council’s Environmental Health Officers.
People should avoid swimming, water skiing, canoeing, and any other activity that brings them into contact with the lake until the Red Alert is lifted.
Potentially toxic blue-green algae may cause gastroenteritis if swallowed, while contact can cause skin and eye irritation. Drinking water containing algal toxins may cause liver damage and other health problems.
Anyone who suspects they have been affected by blue-green algae should seek medical advice.
People should not eat mussels or crayfish from Red Alert warning areas. A precautionary approach to eating fin fish from these areas is also advised.
Any fish caught should be cleaned and washed thoroughly in uncontaminated water, and the internal organs should not be eaten. Avoiding fishing during a bloom is the best way to reduce the risk.
Blue-green algae occur naturally and can reproduce quickly in still or slow-flowing water when there is plenty of sunlight and enough nutrients.
The Red Alert will remain in place until monitoring confirms the risk has sufficiently diminished.
Information about how council manages blue-green algae risks in nearby treated drinking water supplies is available on the Ballina Shire Council website at https://www.ballina.nsw.gov.au/Environment/Beaches-and-Waterways/Lake-Ainsworth-Blue-Green-Algae-Status.
Updates on blue-green algae blooms and Red Alert areas are available at www.waternsw.com.au/algae.
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