The Florida Department of Health in Volusia County has issued a Health Alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in Pioneer and Louise Lakes in Deltona and Bonita Lake in DeBary. This is in response to a water sample taken on April 5. The public should exercise caution in and around these lakes.

• Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions:
• Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft, water ski or boat in waters where there is a visible bloom.
• Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have contact with algae or discolored or smelly water.
• Keep pets away from the area. Waters where there are algae blooms are not safe for animals. Pets and livestock should have a different source of water when algae blooms are present.
• Do not cook or clean dishes with water contaminated by algae blooms. Boiling the water will not eliminate the toxins.
• Eating fillets from healthy fish caught in freshwater lakes experiencing blooms is safe. Rinse fish fillets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts and cook fish well.
• Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms.

Blue-green algae are a type of bacteria that is common in Florida’s freshwater environments. A bloom occurs when rapid growth of algae leads to an accumulation of individual cells that discolor water and often produce floating mats that emit unpleasant odors.

Some environmental factors that contribute to bluegreen algae blooms are sunny days, warm water
temperatures, still water conditions and excess nutrients. Blooms can appear year-round but are more frequent in summer and fall. Many types of blue-green algae can produce toxins.

Blue-green algae blooms can impact human health and ecosystems, including fish and other aquatic animals.

Find current information about Florida’s water quality status and public health notifications for harmful algal blooms and beach conditions by visiting: ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov

To report a blue green algae bloom, visit: ReportAlgalBloom.com