Alberta Health Services has issued a blue-green algae warning for two popular lakes located south of Edmonton.

Officials said early Wednesday that a blue-green algae had been detected in Pigeon Lake, and later said such toxins had also been found in Coal Lake, blue-green algae advisories for those lakes had been issued.

As a result, residents living near those lakes and visitors to either of those lakes are advised to take the following precautions:

  • To not drink water from, or allow pets to drink water from, the lake – boiling the water does not remove toxins
  • To not swim or wade, or allow pets to swim or wade in the lake
  • Avoid contact with blue-green algae blooms along the shoreline
  • To not feed whole fish, or fish trimmings from the lake to pets

In addition, officials said people might want to limit consumption of whole fish, and fish trimmings from the lake, as the toxin from the algae can be found in fish livers – fish fillets from the lake can be safely consumed.

The algae can produce a toxin that can cause serious illness in animals or humans who drink or come in contact with contaminated water.

People who come in contact or drink water containing the algae might experience skin irritation, rash, sore throat, sore red eyes, swollen lips, fever, nausea and vomiting or diarrhea – symptoms usually appear within one to three hours, and should clear up within a day or two.