Staff members at the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit are reminding you to be careful if you see a lot of algae in the water before you go swimming.
During the summer, algal blooms can start to appear in local lakes, ponds and rivers.
Staff members say many of them are harmless, but some, like blue-green algae, can cause skin irritation, nausea, and liver problems if you’re exposed to high concentrations of it.
They say toxins from harmful algal blooms are released into the water over time, and the only way to confirm whether they’re in the water is through a lab test.
If you see an algal bloom happening, you’re being urged to avoid swimming in the area, and to be cautious about eating any fish from that body of water.
You can also report the bloom to the provincial government’s Spills Action Centre at 1-800-268-6060 to get it identified and find out if it’s harmful.