Officials with the ITU World Triathlon Edmonton are scrambling, after Alberta Health Services issued a health advisory for a major component of the upcoming race.
On Wednesday, AHS issued an advisory after blue-green algae was found in the lake in Hawrelak Park.
As a result, visitors to the lake are advised to take precautions and to avoid contact with blooms on the lake, and not swim or wade in the water.
The presence of the blooms is causing problems for organizers of the upcoming ITU World Triathlon, set for September 5 and 6.
“From a health perspective, if held today it wouldn’t be a smart idea, but we have some time to think about this,” Dr. Chris Sikora, AHS Medical Officer of Health said.
As in previous triathlons held in Edmonton, the swimming portion of the race was set to be held in the lake.
“Triathlon is all about overcoming challenges, and this certainly is a challenge,” Don Lowry, with the World Triathlon Series Edmonton said.
Health officials said this is the first time such an advisory has been issued for this particular body of water.
The algae produces a toxin that can cause rashes and make people very ill if they’re exposed to it.
Now, organizers are looking at every possible option to deal with the change – including treating the lake and finding an alternate site for the swim portion.
If the issue isn’t solved by next week, officials said the event may be cancelled. In the past, events have been cancelled for other reasons, including hail and lightning.
Dr. Sikora said in most cases when an Alberta lake has a blue-green algae advisory, it stays for the rest of the season, often lifted in October.
With files from Carmen Leibel
