Blue green algae

[m1.carson]

HI,

Been googling around for photos of BG algae, and not had any luck, this is on our local lake,




Reported it to pollution last year but they didn't get back to me, is it or isn't it ?

Max.

[Lancashire Lad]

It certainly looks like some sort of cyanobacteria.

Would your local water authority perhaps be interested?

There are certainly public health risks associated with cyanobacteria (I hope no one goes swimming in there).

I'm surprised from looking at the quantity showing in your pic. that pollution don't seem to have investigated. (I'm assuming they would have got back to you if they had).

It might just spur them into action if you were to take a sample in.

Regards
Mike.

[Lance Morgan]

looks like pollution of some sort
You need to contact the environment agency:

Environment Agency - Contact us

[Ukwildlifeo]

Yikes thats a worse case than Ive ever seen. Ive only ever seen patches of blue green within green algae. Im no expert but it certain looks like something out tof the ordinary has taken place there

[m1.carson]

Hi,

Think I've sussed why no-one got back to me last year, went back today to get a sample, and it's gorn, vanished, possibly if pollution visited the day after I phoned last year there was nothing to see.

I think I've read somewhere that algae drop down in the water if it cools.

Do you think the Enviroment Agency will accept a photo attachment. ?

Max.

[m1.carson]

Hi,

Sent a mail Friday to E Agency with attachment, then phoned the hotline, I'm trying to describe where the lakes are exactly, turns out I'm talking to someone in DEVON who knows not a lot about wildlife, a call center, I then asked where my e-mail had gone, didn't quite catch the name so it's probably the Outer Hebrides, this is with Thames Water HQ only a few hundred yards away from me.

Will let you know the result.

Max.

[Tracey.A]

It sounds like this lake is fairly shallow and that high levels of phosphates are entering into it from the surrounding area. Changes in farming practices to reduce the amount of phophate will help. Are there any sewage works in the area or septic tanks that you know of?

It is worrying as these blue-green algal blooms are toxic. Excessive levels of phosphate raise the nutrient levels, which result in large amounts of these blooms, which block the sunlight from reaching the aquatic plant life, which then ulimately upsets the natural system of the lake and all it contains. My local loch in the early nineties was very badly affected by this algae and fish did die as a result, insects and plants are also affected.

The good news as far as my loch is concerned is that they have managed to reduce levels of phosphates entering the loch and the water is much improved, although levels of phosphate have built up in the sediment at the bottom of the loch, but I don't know yet how they are going to tackle this problem.

I would contact your local council and ask them who you can speak to. It's very annoying that when you reported it they didn't get back in contact with you.

Good luck.

Tracey

[m1.carson]

Hi,

I received this reply on the 24th November :-

Thank you for your enquiry regarding Blue Green Algae in Caversham, Bucks. For your information, your query has been passed to our local External Relations Team (Planning and Corporate Services) for attention and they will be in touch with you shortly.

Should you wish to contact them in the meantime, their details are below. Please quote your Enquiry Ref 081121/SP07 in your correspondence with us.

it ought to say BERKS not BUCKS, and does three weeks constitute shortly in their terms. ?

Max.