The Washtenaw County Health Department issued a public health advisory on Friday 9/14/18 regarding a Harmful Algal Bloom on Ford Lake. While many green algaes are not harmful, the cyanobacteria present in the recent algae bloom on Ford Lake, and nearby Belleville Lake in Wayne County, are toxic to humans and animals. Cyanobacteria are known to cause severe damage to the liver, the nervous system, and the skin. Side effects from ingesting the water or absorbing it through the skin include abdominal pain, flu-like symptoms, headaches, dizziness, numbness, and difficulty breathing. Fish caught in Ford Lake should not be consumed. Factors that contribute to harmful algal blooms include low-water or low-flow conditions; warmer temperatures; and excess nutrients (phosphorus or nitrogen). The primary sources of nutrient pollution are runoff of fertilizers, animal manure, sewage treatment plant discharges, storm water runoff, car and power plant emissions, and failing septic tanks.
For more information,
call the Washtenaw County Health Dept 734-222-6850,
or consult their website washtenaw.org/CivicAlerts
