AN amber alert for blue-green algae remains in place at Ben Chifley Dam as the region enters the final month of summer.
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The dam remains open for all recreational activities but a blue-green alert indicates algae may be multiplying in numbers.
Bathurst Regional Council’s website advises that the water may have a green tinge and musty or organic taste and odour.
“The water should be considered as unsuitable for potable use and alternative supplies or prior treatment of raw water for domestic purposes should be considered,” the website states.
“The water may also be unsuitable for stock watering. The water remains suitable for recreational use.”
Meanwhile, the dam level is sitting at 78.8 per cent capacity following the most recent reading on Tuesday, with more than 23,000 megalitres of water in storage.
Release of water from the dam is averaging 104 megalitres a day while inflow on Tuesday was 11 megalitres a day.
Consumption of filtered water in Bathurst is averaging 21.9 megalitres a day (the equivalent of 8.8 Olympic sized swimming pools) while treated water returned to the Macquarie River is averaging 8.5 megalitres a day.
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