Water ban remains for Pelee Islanders as blue-green algae threat continues

The City of Toledo water intake crib is surrounded by algae in Lake Erie, about 2.5 miles off the shore of Curtice, Ohio, Sunday, Aug. 3, 2014. (AP / Haraz N. Ghanbari)

Pelee Island residents won’t know until the end of the week whether it’s safe to drink the water from Lake Erie.

Now in its seventh day, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit says a water ban across Pelee Island remains.  Associate medical officer of health, Dr. Gary Kirk issued the ban on Aug. 26 after a blue-green algae bloom threatened the water quality around the town.

Health officials are taking water samples Tuesday afternoon, but the results aren’t expected to return until Friday.

In the meantime, Islanders are asked to only consume bottled water. Boiling water from the lake won’t eliminate any toxins the algae could create.

Beaches are closed and residents are asked to not swim, bathe or cook with surrounding water. Residents on the mainland, along with islanders are asked to not eat fish caught from the lake.

Water contaminated by blue-green algae can cause itchy, irritated eyes and skin. If swallowed, people may develop a headache, fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting or more serious health effects.

If you think you’ve developed any of these symptoms, you should consult your doctor.