Dog owners are being warned to keep their pets away from a park lake due to a toxic algae outbreak.
The lake in Taylor Park, St Helens, is currently closed due to an outbreak of blue-green algae which can kill your pets and be harmful to humans. St Helens Council has erected signs in the park warning people about the closure and to stay clear of the water.
The notice reads: "Due to blue-green algae keep clear of the water. Avoid contact with any algal scum. Do not allow your pets to enter or drink the water. No swimming at any time or water activity."
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Blue-green algae naturally occur in inland waters, estuaries and the sea but blooms can form when their numbers become excessive. According to the Environment Agency's website, scums form during calm weather when several bloom-forming species rise to the surface of the water.
This can look like paint, jelly or form small clumps and may be blue-green, grey-green, a greenish -brown or occasionally a reddish-brown in colour. Bloom and scum forming blue-green algae can produce toxins which can kill wild animals as well as domestic pets and farm livestock.
People who have swallowed or swan through algal scum have also suffered from illnesses including skin rashes, eye irritation, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever and muscle and joint pain. According to the Environment Agency, these haven’t led to long-term effects or death but, in some cases, the illnesses were severe.
The Environment Agency website advises that while not all blue-green algae blooms and scums are toxic, you can’t tell just by looking at them, so it’s best to assume they are.
For more information or to report blue-green Algae contact the Environment Agency Incident hotline 0800 807060.
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