Hardly a day goes by in Florida that we don’t see news of a recent sewage spill or a new warning of toxic algae to avoid in a lake, river or beach.
Tuesday, June 7, 2022: “No swimming, boating in three Polk County Lakes where blue-green algae found.” says the headline in this ABC Action News article. Another, the same day in Palm Coast Observer warns Flagler County residents that “Health officials issue blue-green algae bloom alert for Bull Creek north of Fish Camp.”
Serious warnings include the following:
- 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.
Monday, June 6: on WRLN Miami we see “Virginia Key Beach closed as sewage overflow leads to no-swim advisory in Miami-Dade.” It seems as if Florida is becoming like the Valdosta wastewater treatment plant: every time it rains the system fails and pollution flows out among the neighborhoods.
Sunday, June 5: from the Ledger where we have run out of free articles: “Algae warnings issued for three Polk lakes | The Ledger.”
And Saturday, June 4: WINK News gives us “Blue-green algae bloom alert from health officials” which warns about water in Lee County. Notice the order listed for causes:
Some environmental factors that contribute to blue-green algae blooms are sunny days, warm water temperatures, still water conditions, and excess nutrients. Blooms can appear year-round. Although, they are more frequent in summer and fall. Many types of blue-green algae can produce toxins.
Assuming this is a list of ingredients on food, they have it totally backward. We used to have sunny days, warm water temperatures and still water conditions but no algae. The key ingredient her is EXCESS NUTRIENTS. That is the part that we can control but our leaders choose not to because it will involve money.
The ABC Action News article echoed somewhat the same; the main source, nutrients, is listed almost as an afterthought.
“Blooms are more common in the summer and fall just because it’s warmer. Also, a supply of nutrients in the water can also encourage the blue-green algae to grow,” said Acosta-Torres.
It is time we start to worry more about excessive nutrients than sunny days and warm temperatures.
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
jim.tatum@oursantaferiver.org
– A river is like a life: once taken,
it cannot be brought back © Jim Tatum
