WaterNSW has issued a red alert warning for high levels of potentially toxic blue-green algae for Keepit Dam, east of Gunnedah.
The red alert warning applies only to untreated water at the identified location and will remain in place until monitoring confirms that the risk is sufficiently diminished. According to WaterNSW, people should avoid consuming untreated water from this waterbody and prevent pets and livestock from drinking this water.
People should also avoid recreational activities such as swimming, water skiing, canoeing and any other activity that brings them into contact with this water body until the red alert warning is lifted.
Potentially toxic blue-green algae may cause gastroenteritis if consumed, while contact can cause skin and eye irritations. Consumption of water containing algal toxins may cause liver damage and other health problems. Boiling the water does not remove algal toxins. People who suspect 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 red alert warning areas is advised. Any fish caught should be cleaned and washed thoroughly in uncontaminated water; the internal organs should not be eaten. Avoiding fishing during a bloom is the best way to minimise risk.
Blue-green algae are naturally occurring and can reproduce quickly in still or slow-flowing water when there is abundant sunlight and sufficient nutrients.
According to the CSIRO, blue-green algae thrives in the warm surface layer of a water body that forms, usually, from spring through to autumn throughout Australia’s inland waters. Blue-green algae possess gas pockets which prevent them from sinking so that they remain in the surface layer and can access the abundant light near the water surface, leading to rapid growth.
