BGA in LBG - The Lake unsafe

BGA also has to do with the fact that the water in LBG never moves……..it just sits there and stagnates, there is no airation of the water.

All the more reason to get some big booming V8 powerboats out there to get some currents going.

I’m going to try my luck swimming there on Sunday. In this heat i’ll take my chances.

Growing warmer and multiplying its toxins! Quick! Drink it befire it’s too late!

And 2nd time around you’d have thought I’d have picked up the typos…sheesh.
Where’s me beer?

Grr – bloody tags – try that again:

Vic Bitterman said :

Within reason, I think a lot of this is BS.

I can recall growing up in country Vic (with my rose coloured glasses on) spending our summer days enjoying ourselves in swimming holes, rivers and so on. Back then, no water samples taken, and no idea of water volume being turned over, nasties such as BGA and so on. Good times back then.

I think somewhat these days we are wrapped in cotton wool.

Yeah right. But you forget that ‘back in your day’, lots of people got sick but the doctors didn’t know why, they got a ‘dose of the trots’ and thought it was the leftovers, and so on. And 15 of you lived in cardboard box. Spolied rotten i say…

The difference is that now we tend to know why more often. And there ain’t no cotton wool going on to avoid exposing your kids to *known* toxic conditions.

But Vic – no-one’s stopping you. Money where your mouth is buddy – enjoy your swim in Lake Tuggers!

Within reason, I think a lot of this is BS.

I can recall growing up in country Vic (with my rose coloured glasses on) spending our summer days enjoying ourselves in swimming holes, rivers and so on. Back then, no water samples taken, and no idea of water volume being turned over, nasties such as BGA and so on. Good times back then.

I think somewhat these days we are wrapped in cotton wool.

Yeah right. But you forget that ‘back in your day’, lots of people got sick but the doctors didn’t know why, they got a ‘dose of the trots’ and thought it was the leftovers, and so on. And 15 of you lived in cardboard box. Spolied rotten i say…

The difference is that now we tend to know why more often. And there ain’t no cotton wool going on to avoid exposing your kids to *known* toxic conditions.

But Vic – no-one’s stopping you. Money where your mouth is buddy – enjoy your swim in Lake Tuggers!

Health effects

Blue green algae produce a wide range of toxins, each of which has specific properties. The toxins are commonly grouped according to their mode of action:
• hepatotoxins – cause damage to the liver
• neurotoxins – cause adverse effects to the nervous system
• irritants/inflammatory agents – cause skin rashes, eye irritation and gastroenteritis.

The toxic effects of blue green algae can occur following ingestion or contact with affected water.

Symptoms vary according to the type and number of blue green algae present but commonly include skin rashes, eye irritation, stomach upsets and flu-like symptoms.

Preventing illness
• Avoid contact with coloured surface films or scums in fresh or marine water bodies
• If you suspect contamination of a water supply with blue green algae, do not use the water for any purpose including drinking, cooking, washing or showering
• Boiling the water will NOT make it safe to drink
• Do not consume shellfish from a water source where blue green algae is present or suspected
• Restrict pet and livestock access to any water supply containing or suspected of containing blue green algae
• Do not let animals bathe in or drink contaminated water
• Particular care should be taken with dogs as they can ingest very high concentrations of organisms from grooming their coat after contact
• If irrigation with water contaminated with blue green algae is unavoidable, do not use directly on plants being grown for human consumption.

Information courtesy of http://www.health.sa.gov.au/PEHS/PDF-files/ph-factsheet-blue-green-algae.pdf

My kids and I swam in LBG at Yarralumla Bay during the week. My boys insisted on drinking the water too – just to spite/disgust me. Everyone is still OK.

Maybe this is an inside deal with the proprietors of Canberra’s commercial pools to get people coming to them in the hot weather rather than going to the lakes and rivers in this hot weather…

Blue green algae is actually bacteria. Its no suprise its thriving with this current heat we are having plus low rainfall. It’s ideal conditions for any bacteria really, its damp and hot like a piece of chicken not properly cooked or a bottle of milk left out on a warm day 😛

Horrible smell emanating from Tuggeranong Lake this evening as we went along Athllon Drive. Pheeew. Like sewage. Does the algae do this, or is there a spill?

Gungahlin Al said :

Kambah Pool too I heard on the radio this arvo – pity for anyone thinking about hauling the family over there for a swim tomorrow.

You’d think Kambah Pool wouldn’t be too affected as it’s a flowing river.