News Release                              For Immediate Release

                                                                                                                         September 2nd, 2009

DO NOT USE WATER ADVISORY for Residents who use water directly from Irish Lake.

Please be advised that as of 1:30p.m. on September 2nd, 2009 the Grey Bruce Health Unit issued a Do Not Use Water Advisory for the residents near and around Irish Lake in the Municipalities of Grey Highlands and West Grey. This advisory affects those residents who use the lake as their direct drinking water source. All of these residents are being contacted by the Municipalities and are being provided with information.

Those residents who are on their own separate well supply are not affected.

The advisory is in response to the presence of blue green algae (cynobacteria) within the lake. Cynobacteria may contain algae species with the potential to produce toxins which may be harmful to human health and to the health of animals.

INSTRUCTIONS

Do not drink, brush teeth with, bathe in, shower in or swim in the water

Do not wash clothes or wash dishes

Do not let pets drink or bathe in the water

Do not boil the water – boiling water may release more toxins in the water.

Do not eat fish caught in the lake (particularly liver, kidney and other organs)

Do not use water from the source until the algae and the toxin have been positively identified.

The Do Not Use Advisory will remain in effect until water samples taken by the Ministry of Environment indicate that the lake water is safe.  The Municipalities of Grey Highlands and West Grey will work closely with the Public Health Unit and the Ministry of the Environment to lift the Do Not Use Advisory as soon as possible.

For further information, call Public Health at 519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 or visit our website at www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca.

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Attachment: Blue-Green Algae Fact Sheet ; background, potential human health and safety of drinking water.

For more information:

Andrew Barton

Manager, Health Protection

Grey Bruce Health Unit

519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 ext.1353