Skip to Content

North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit Logo North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit Logo Print

Contact Us
  • Public Health
    Services
    • Breastfeeding Clinic
    • Community Events and Farmers Markets
    • Dental Clinic
    • Family Health Information Line
    • Food Safety Certification Training
    • Healthy Babies, Healthy Children
    • Infection Prevention and Control Investigations
    • Inspection Results and Enforcement
    • Needle Syringe Program
    • Planet Youth Nipissing
    • Prenatal Classes
    • Private Drinking Water Testing
    • The Sexual Health Clinic
    • Vaccination Clinics
    • Vaccination Records
  • Health
    Topics
    • 2SLGBTQ+
    • Air Quality
    • Alcohol
    • Animal Bites
    • Beach, Lake and Pool Water
    • Breastfeeding
    • Cancer Prevention and Screening
    • Cannabis
    • Climate Change
    • Dental Health
    • Diseases
    • Drinking Water
    • Emergencies and Being Prepared
    • Farm Fresh Eggs
    • Flu/Influenza
    • Food Safety
    • Gambling
    • Hand Hygiene
    • Healthy Aging
    • Healthy Eating
    • Heat and Humidity
    • Home Health and Safety
    • Housing and Homelessness
    • Injury Prevention
    • Intimate Partner Violence
    • Mental Health
    • Naloxone
    • Pregnancy, Infant and Child Health
    • Perfluoroalkylated Substances (PFAS)
    • Physical Activity
    • Racism
    • Radiation
    • Reducing Weight Bias
    • Sexual Health
    • Sharps
    • Smoking, Vaping and Tobacco
    • Substance Use
    • Suicide Prevention
    • Vaccinations
    • Vision Health
  • Health Professionals
    and Partners
    • Camp Providers
    • Child Cares
    • Cooling Tower Property Owners and Maintenance Operators
    • COVID-19 Healthcare Providers, Hospitals and Long-Term Care
    • Designated Officers
    • Emergency Management
    • Group Home and Shelter Administrators
    • Health Care Professionals
    • Health Care Providers COVID-19 Vaccine Information
    • Healthy Aging Resources
    • Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes
    • Maternal Child Update
    • Municipal Resources
    • Needle Syringe Programs
    • Nutrition Resources
    • Ontario Naloxone Program (ONP) Distributing Agencies and First Responders
    • Personal Service Settings
    • Report an Overdose
    • Schools
    • Teaching Kitchen
  • Community Data
    and Reports
    • Child and Youth Health Data
    • Chronic Diseases
    • Environmental Health
    • Health Behaviours
    • Indirect Impacts of COVID-19
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Injuries
    • Mortality
    • Nipissing Parry Sound Public Health Atlas
    • Oral Health
    • Population Demographics
    • Reproductive and Child Health
    • Respiratory Dashboard
    • Substance Use Harms
    • Well-being and Mental Health
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Accessibility
    • Board of Health
    • Careers and Placements
    • Contact Us
    • Interview with Isabel Churcher
    • News and Events
    • Personal Health Privacy Policy
    • Programs and Services
    • RFPs and Tenders
    • 2024-2027 Strategic Plan
Search Button

Back To Top

News Release: Harmful Blue-Green Algae in Talon Lake and McQuaby Lake

  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Email this page Email
Email icon Back to Search

TOWNSHIP OF BONFIELD AND TOWNSHIP OF NIPISSING – The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) would like to advise the public that a harmful algae bloom (cyanobacteria), also known as blue-green algae, has been found in Talon Lake (McCool Bay, Township of Bonfield) and McQuaby Lake (Township of Nipissing). Species of the algae capable of producing toxins were confirmed by the laboratory of the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. The toxins in harmful algae can irritate the skin and, if swallowed, cause diarrhea and vomiting.

Residents of Township of Bonfield and Township of Nipissing may be affected depending on their closeness to the algae bloom, the size of the lake, wind direction, water flow, and other environmental conditions that cannot be predicted or controlled. Due to the many factors involved, government authorities are unable to determine where and when there are no toxins. Users are advised to exercise their judgment. For further details on the location of the algae bloom, and sampling process, contact the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks - Spills Action Centre - 1-800-268-6060.

If you live near where a bloom was detected or where a bloom is visible, follow these safety measures:

  • Do not use the water. This includes drinking, cooking, bathing, and brushing teeth. Note: Using a private water system or boiling the water will not destroy the toxins.
  • Do not swim and avoid water sports where a bloom is present.
  • If skin contact does occur, wash with soap and water then rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove algae.
  • Limit the amount of fish flesh you eat. Some toxins can build up in fish and shellfish. Do not eat the liver, kidneys and other organs. Be careful not to cut the organs when filleting.

You can find out more about harmful algae at myhealthunit.ca/algae or by calling the Health Unit at 705-474-1400, ext. 5400 or 1-800-563-2808.

Quick Facts

  • Cyanobacteria – also called harmful algae, blue-green algae or ‘pond scum’ – are not really algae, but tiny bacteria.
  • Although usually hard to see, during hot weather they can grow rapidly to form a large mass, called a bloom. Blooms continually change and are difficult to predict. Wind, temperature or sunlight could change where the bloom is located in the water.
  • Dense harmful algae blooms may make the water look bluish-green, or like green pea soup or turquoise paint. Very dense blooms may form solid-looking clumps.
  • Fresh blooms often smell like newly mown grass, while older blooms may smell like rotting garbage.
  • Even when a bloom has disappeared, toxins can persist in water bodies for a period of time.
  • Long-term toxin exposure at high levels may cause liver and nervous system damage.

- 30 -

Media Inquiries

Alex McDermid, Public Relations Specialist
P: 705-474-1400, ext. 5221 or 1-800-563-2808
E: communications@healthunit.ca

Email iconSubscribe

Contact Us

Subscribe to this page

North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit Footer Logo

  • Website

    • About Us
    • Employment Opportunities
    • News
  • Links

    • Accessibility
    • Privacy
    • Sitemap
    • Staff Intranet
  • Resources

    Increase Contrast

Your lifetime partner in healthy living!

Copyright 2022 North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit

By GHD Digital

Browser Compatibility Notification

It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.