Tips for staying safe against blue-green algae this summer – CTV

July 14, 2024

With temperatures rising for the oncoming summer, many shutdowns due to the toxic blue-green algae has made for a tough time finding a safe spot to swim in the region – with one of the most recent shutdowns at Cunard Pond Beach(opens in a new tab) in Halifax.

Elizabeth Montgomery, a water resource specialist with the Halifax Regional Municipality, said what we’ve come to know as blue-green algae isn’t actually algae at all; it’s a bacteria called cyanobacteria.

“It’s naturally occurring in our water bodies here, but when the conditions are right, the water temperatures are right, when there’s enough nutrients for blue-green algae to eat it can form what would be called blooms which is what we’re seeing at Cunard Pond Beach right now,” said Montgomery in an interview with CTV’s Ana Almeida on Friday.

Montgomery said the blooms are dangerous as they are toxic, and to avoid the water if you see signs of them.

Read more: https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/tips-for-staying-safe-against-blue-green-algae-this-summer-1.6963005