Blue-green algae advisories hurting campsite owner's business

The blue-greenalgae is back just in time for the summer swimming season at about a dozen Albertalakes, and one campsite operator says public misconceptions around the health advisories are hurting business.

Since June 21, Alberta Health Services (AHS) has issued blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria,advisories at 13 lakes around the province, including Eagle Lake where Leslie Pringle owns and operates the Eagle Lake RV Resort.

• Toxic algae blooms: What you should know about the mysterious phenomena
• Toxic blue-green algae blooming on Alberta lakes

But the advisories are causing a decrease in business because once the advisory is posted it stays up all summer, even if the scum and bloom disappear.

"The algae isn't the issue, it's the misconceptions about what the advisory actually means. That's the problem," says Pringle.

"Noone has died or gotten sick from green or blue algae ...what we're seeing is an overreaction...people are not reading the full advisory," says Pringle.

The AHS began postingthe algae advisories three years ago.

The advisories are detailed in their descriptions of the risks if there is skin contact or the water is swallowed,including skin irritation, rash, sore throat, sore red eyes, swollen lips, fever, nausea and vomiting andor diarrhea.

The advisory specifically states:Do not swim or wade(or allow your pets to swim or wade) in any areas where blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) is visible.

Pringle says currently when she looks out at the lake, no algae is visible. She said there was some found around June 23 on the other side of the lake but a storm the next day got rid of the algae. It's not uncommon to see the algae on one part of the lake in the morning, but it disappears in the afternoon, or even for the rest of the summer, she says.

Pringle and her family swim regularly in the lake and her pet poodle swims there everyday. Anecdotally, anyone who has gone swimmingin the lake has not become ill.

"If you see blue-green algae, which is quite distinctive, don't swim there. You can use the entire rest of the lake."

Prior to the AHS warnings becoming official, Pringle saysthey'd just look out at the lake and say, "I don't think today is a swimming day."

Safe to swim when algae not present

Dr. Jason Cabaj, a medical officer of health in the Calgary Zone, says the advisory is just that, a precaution for when the algae is present.

"The reason we take the approach we do yes it is a moving target and the blooms and scum change with the weather conditions," saidCabaj. "Once the bacteria is in the lake, it often tends to recur, so we want to provide messaging about the potential risk and precautions," explaining why the advisories remain posted all summer.

Common sense should always prevail, he says.

"People really should be looking at the conditions. If there's isn't any visible sign of the algae, they can go in. But we don't recommend drinking [the water]," Cabaj says.

Boiling the water does not eliminate the bacteria, he adds.

Parents and caregivers should be particularly mindful when letting children swim or wade or get a mouthful of water. But again if there is no sign of the scum or bloom, it's safe to swim.

Visit the AHS website for more information and FAQs.

With files from the Eyeopener.