The White Lake Preservation Project has received results for the determination of levels of microsystins in the water sample taken from White Lake on October 7, 2015. Microsystins are toxic compounds produced by blue green algal blooms. The sample taken by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change was confirmed to contain anaboena, a potentially dangerous blue green algae. For this reason, the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit issued an advisory warning to all four Townships on White Lake.
The chemical analysis of the water samples detected the presence of microsysting at a concentration level of 0.05 parts per billion, which is about 30 times LOWER than the recommended upper limit for drinking water. The lake water is safe to use. Note that the same type of algal bloom which occurred in 2014 contained levels of microsystins which were 26 times higher than that permitted in drinking water.
We will be monitoring the lake for any recurring algal blooms, which hopefully will be thwarted by the cool weather we are now experiencing.
Conrad Gregoire
White Lake Preservation Project
www.WLPP.ca
