A blue-green (cyanobacteria) bloom has been discovered on Pigeon Lake, and Alberta Health Services is advising residents living near the shores of the lake, as well as visitors, to take the following precautions:

  • Avoid all contact with blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms. If contact occurs, wash with tap water as soon as possible.
  • Do not swim or wade, or allow your pets to swim or wade in any areas where blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) is visible.
  • Do not feed whole fish or fish trimmings from this lake to your pets.
  • Consider limiting human consumption of whole fish and fish trimmings from this lake, as it is known that fish may store toxins in their liver. (People can safely consume fish fillets from this lake).

Residents are also reminded to never drink or cook with untreated water out of Pigeon Lake at any time. Boiling this water will not remove the toxins produced by blue-green algae. 

Blue-green algae is naturally occurring, and often becomes visible when weather conditions are calm. Appearing like scum, grass clippings, fuzz or globs on the surface of water, blue-green algae can be blue-green, greenish-brown, brown, and/or pinkish-red, and often smell musty or grassy.

People who come in contact with visible blue-green algae or who ingest water containing blue-green algae may experience skin irritation, rash, sore throat, sore red eyes, swollen lips, fever, nausea and vomiting and/or diarrhea. Symptoms usually appear within one to three hours and resolve in one to two days. Symptoms in children are often more pronounced; however, all humans are at risk of these symptoms.

Exposure to the bacteria may be fatal to pets. 

For more information, or if you suspect a problem related to blue-green algae, you can health Health Link at 811, or click here for more information from ahs.ca/bga.