Castanet – October 21, 2021
Water treatment expert says more needs to be done to prevent algae blooms in our lakes.
A water treatment expert says action must be taken to preserve Wood Lake – and others – after this past summer’s toxic algae bloom.
“Did anyone go swimming in woods lake this year?” asks industrial water treatment professional Kevin Brown of Vernon. “Seeing Woods Lake in its current state is something that we must take action on so that we can preserve this paradise of the Okanagan Valley.”
The District of Lake Country confirmed the algae bloom in April after residents began noticing a green, pea-soup like consistency to the water around the shores of the lake.
Interior Health advised the public not to swim in the lake over the summer.
The district said the bloom was a naturally occurring phenomenon, and the Okanagan Basin Water Board confirmed conditions that trigger the blooms are forecast to become a more-frequent occurrence due to climate change.
However, only about 5% of such blooms produce toxins.