 HAB Tracker
from NCCOS satellite monitoring and Ohio BeachGuard
Ohio EPA explains HAB protocols for drinking water facilities
July 23, 2024 1058 am EDT
Routine testing in Maumee Bay State Park has recently returned high microcystins values (40 ug/L) prompting a Recreational Health Advisory for algal toxin.
The Maumee Bay State Park concentration has not been as high as the Sandusky Bay HAB, giving more urgency to the tracking of potential public safety impacts with drinking water sourced from Lake Erie and Sandusky Bay in particular. To compound the issue with Sandusky, the bloom this season has been noted as atypical, a type of cyanbacteria that produces a different toxin than standard water testing looks for.
WTOH inquired of Ohio EPA for more information on Sandusky City water testing regimen, given the difference in HAB - Aphanizemenon rather than Microcystis - and different toxins potentially produced - cylindrospermopsins rather than microcystins. Dina Pierce is the spokesperson for OEPA. First off, she informs us that Sandusky City has two raw water intakes, the main supply being 1.5 miles northeast of Sandusky Bay. The main intake allows the city to avoid the current bloom in the bay. To date all microcystins testing has come back below the minimul reporting level.
Pierce further explains the rigor and complexity of testing by Ohio drinking water facilities sourced from surface water, that it goes beyond the bi-weekly testing for total microcystins. "Ohio public water systems (PWS) that use surface water as their source do sample biweekly for microcystins. On the alternating weeks they also collect cyanobacteria screening samples that detect the production genes of the most common cyanotoxins in Ohio (not just microcystins)."
HAB toxin testing starts the first full week of June each year. Total microcystins above .24 ug/L in the raw water are reportable levels, so far Sandusky has not detected above the minimum reporting level. Pierce goes further, "Any detection of microcystins requires increased monitoring, and depending on the concentrations in the screening samples, additional follow-up may be required."
Going into more details, Pierce says, "All of Ohio’s surface water public water systems (excluding “consecutive systems” - those that buy water from another system) are required to develop HAB treatment optimization plans (TOPs) that detail how they would respond and optimize their treatment processes in case of a HAB to ensure treated drinking water meets regulatory criteria. The TOP must focus on optimization of existing treatment for microcystins removal as required by Ohio regulations. The TOP must include detailed information about the PWS and describe treatment adjustments that will be made under various raw and finished water quality conditions. It also should include strategies such as raw water screening tools (such as satellite imagery and visual inspection), avoidance strategies (such as suspending pumping), and treatment plant observations (pH, chemical demands). Implementation of these strategies help inform when a HAB is developing and treatment changes that need to be made."
WTOH asked how the Ohio EPA is engaged in the daily and dynamic process of ensuring drinking water safety as the HABs change, the toxins change. Pierce responds, "Ohio EPA reviews the routine HAB monitoring results that are submitted. If results indicate increased monitoring is required, the agency follows up with the water system to make sure they understand what their additional sampling responsibilities are. Current requirements include testing for the most common toxins that we see in Ohio, however the water systems, Ohio Department of Health, and local health districts can request Ohio EPA’s assistance for additional sampling and/or analysis if other suspected toxins not analyzed for through routine monitoring may be present."
More public safety controls in daily practise, Pierce expounds "Surface water systems with intakes on Ohio’s rivers are required to conduct the monitoring mentioned above and use the strategies in their TOPs. PWS filling their up ground reservoirs from rivers are encouraged to monitor their source water and avoid pumping water under certain conditions to minimize risk. For the Ohio River, the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) monitors for HABs at stations along the river and shares the data with Ohio EPA and other agencies. Anyone can report a suspected harmful algal bloom report with this form. These reports can lead to follow-up sampling."
Lake Erie West Basin HAB Monitoring Program satellite images supplied by National Center for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)
The latest image uploaded from NCCOS was captured Sunday July 21 at surface wind speed 5.4 mph, a partially clear image of the Lake Erie HAB through the west basin.
The following observations are based on the image from July 21 unless otherwise noted:
- North Maumee Bay widespread HAB 700 to 800 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Toledo - Maumee Bay cloud obscured, July 20 image showed no HAB visible in the inner bay area, the widespread HAB begins approximately 2.5 nm from the mouth of Maumee River matching the color scale for 300 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Toledo - Maumee Bay State Park widespread HAB extending from shore and five nm into the open water 300 thousand cells per 100 ml - see below for algal toxin advisory details
- Mallard Club Marsh Wilderness Area to Cedar Point widespread HAB from shore extending 5 nm miles into open water at 300 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge widespread HAB wraps from Maumee Bay State Park side around the point to the east side, 300 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Reno Beach cloud obscured, July 20 image showed band of HAB two miles wide running along shore 300 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area cloud obscured, July 20 image showed band of HAB two miles wide running along shore 300 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Magee Marsh Wildlife Area cloud obscured, July 20 image showed band of HAB two miles wide running along shore 300 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Toussaint River cloud obscured, July 20 image showed localized HABs along shore 300 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Camp Perry cloud obscured, July 20 image showed localized HABs along shore 300 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Port Clinton no HAB noted
- Catawba Island inland water bodies widespread HAB 200 thousand HABs per 100 ml
- Kelleys Island cloud obscured, July 20 image showed widespread HAB extending out of Sandusky Bay past the east shore of Kelleys Island 200 thousand cells per 100 ml
- South Bass Island cloud obscured, July 20 image showed no HAB observed
- Middle Bass Island cloud obscured, July 20 image showed no HAB observed
Sandusky Bay:
- Muddy Creek Bay - no HAB activity
- Pickerel Point to Bayview/Route 269 - dispersed HAB Aphanizomenon 700 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Bay View/Route 269 toward Cedar Point - widespread HAB Aphanizomenon 700 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Cedar Point - cloud obscured - July 20 image showed widespread HAB extending from Cedar Point past the east shore of Kelleys Island 5 to 7 miles wide also running the lake side shore of Cedar Point at 200 to 300 thousand cells per 100 ml
Lake Erie east of Sandusky Bay no HABs noted
Composited Cyanobacteria Index as reported by National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, a visual scale based on true color imagery from the Copernicus- Sentinel 3a satellite of the EUMETSAT Note: Winds above 4.0 mph may begin mixing the bloom and clouds may obscure it, leading to an underestimate of the area. Moderate and low concentrations may not be obvious to the eye.
Sixteen beach advisories are listed Tuesday, down from twenty posted on Monday. Nine Lake Erie beaches are posted for high bacterial levels with one beach Maumee Bay State Park posted for high algal toxin microcystins. Crystal Lake and Madison Lake beaches remain on the advisory list for high bacterial levels. Four permanent algal toxin advisories remain on this list for Grand Lake. Removed from the list overnight are Columbia Park, Lagoons Beach, Main Street Beach and Bay View West.
Ohio Department of Health posts advisories based on updated lab test results with e.coli levels above 235 ug/L, or based on predictive modeling. Beach advisories based on predictive modeling may display e.coli test results well below the threshold 235 ug/L.
The following list are the beaches with active Recreational Public Health Advisories, test results are updated as they come in, check back for the latest results.
Algal Toxin AdvisoriesUS EPA safe limit for microcystins in recreational water 8 ug/L; OEPA safe limit for drinking water sources .3 ug/L
- Lake Erie - Maumee Bay State Park (Erie) advisory posted July 19 415 pm for algal toxin found 40 ug/L in water sample collected July 11.
- Grand Lake - St Marys Main East Beach - Recreational Public Health Advisory issued 315 pm June 5 for algal bloom toxin - July 16 microcystins 12.4 ug/L down from 14.1 ug/L on July 2
- Grand Lake - St Marys - Windy Point - Recreational Public Health Advisory - Algal bloom-toxin issued May 23, 2024 July 16 microcystins 20 ug/L up from 14.7 ug/L July 2
- Grand Lake - Main West Beach - Recreational Public Health Advisory - Algal bloom-toxin issued May 23, 2024 July 16 microcystins 12.1 ug/L down from 17.6 ug/L July 2.
- Grand Lake - St. Mary's Camp - Recreational Public Health Advisory - Algal bloom-toxin issued May 23, 2024, July 16 microcystins 9.6 ug/L down from 13.9 ug/L July 2
Bacteria Contamination Advisory High Bacteria Level confirmed by lab testing
Lake Erie Beaches
- Camp Perry - Ottawa County - advisory issued 11 am July 19, 2024 for e.coli 547.5 cfu per 100 ml measured July 18
- Port Clinton (Deep/Lakeview) - Ottawa County - advisory issued 146 pm July 18, 2024 for e.coli 2419.6 cfu per 100 ml measured July 19
- Lakeshore Park - Ashtabula County - advisory issued 306 pm July 19, 2024 for e.coli 365 cfu per 100 ml measured July 17
- Bay Point (Market) Beach - Ottawa County - advisory issued 1030 am July 18, 2024 for e.coli 290.9 cfu per 100 ml measured July 17
- Noble Beach - Cuyahoga County - advisory issued 933 am July 16, 2024 for e.coli 358 cfu per 100 ml measured July 18
- Sims Beach - Ottawa County - advisory issued 917 am July 16, 2024 for e.coli 775 cfu per 100 ml measured July 19
- Clarkwood Beach - Cuyahoga County - advisory issued 852 am July 16, 2024 for e.coli 374 cfu per 100 ml measured July 18
- Moss Point Beach - Cuyahoga County - advisory issued 949 am July 16, 2024 for e.coli 551 cfu per 100 ml measured July 18
- Edgecliff Beach - Cuyahoga County - advisory issued 1005 am July 16, 2024 for e.coli 344 cfu per 100 ml measured July 18
Interior Ohio Beach Advisories
- Crystal Lake Club - Crystal Lake - Summit - advisory issued 348 pm July 10, 2024 e.coli 361 cfu per 100 ml measured July 16
- Madison Lake - Madison County advisory issued 1255 pm July 12, 2024 e.coli 749 cfu per 100 ml measured July 10
Removed from the active advisory list for the weekend
- Columbia Park Beach - Cuyahoga County - advisory issued 859 am July 15, 2024 for e.coli 488 cfu per 100 ml measured July 18
- Lagoons Beach - Erie County - advisory issued 853 am July 16, 2024 for e.coli 547.5 cfu per 100 ml measured July 18
- Bay View West - Erie County - advisory issued 850 am July 16, 2024 for e.coli 2419.6 cfu per 100 ml measured July 19
- Main Street Beach - Erie County - advisory issued 852 am July 16, 2024 for e.coli 488.4 cfu per 100 ml measured July 18
Ohio BeachGuard is a public facing app displaying active advisories for recreational water bodies, including high bacteria advisories and toxic algae advisories. Sampling is done by County Health, water utilities or Ohio Department of Natural Resources with advisories issued and lab test results reported by the Ohio Department of Health. Ohio Environmental Protection Agency oversees standard testing of raw water sources for bacterial and cyanotoxin levels in water to be treated for drinking. OEPA and ODNR, Ohio DOH publish test results for drinking water and recreational water separately, even on the same water body. WT tracks bacterial and cyanotoxin values from both the recreational BeachGuard and Ohio Drinking Water Watch.
Toxic algae advisories indicate avoid all contact with the water. Algal toxins have been found at unsafe levels. Swimming and wading are not recommended. Keep pets away.
For more information check Ohio State resources here
or call 1-866-644-6224
Western Basin Lake Erie National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science
HABS Hazardous Algae Blooms
Get informed and stay safe around the water this summer
WaterToday collects algal bloom monitoring information from state and federal agencies including but not limited to the CDC, EPA, NOAA and state public health authorities.
HABs alerts are posted on our state maps according to the best available information reported by citizen groups, universities, state and/or federal monitoring agencies.
Before you head out to the beach, pond or stream, check with local authorities to confirm the latest HABs conditions.
Consider carrying a rapid test kit for micro-cystin, the most common of the cyanobacteria toxins.
Sources for algal bloom data:
National Centres for Coastal Ocean Science
A department of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NCCOS provides harmful algal bloom forecasting for certain water bodies and regions including:
West Basin Lake Erie https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/science-areas/habs/hab-monitoring-system/cyanobacteria-algal-bloom-from-satellite-in-western-lake-erie-basin/
Lake Pontchartrain https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/science-areas/habs/hab-monitoring-system/cyanobacteria-algal-bloom-from-satellite-in-lake-pontchartrain-la/
The forecasting is based on true color imagery provided by OLCI sensors on Copernicus Sentinel-3a satellite of the EUMETSAT group
Environmental Protection Agency Cyanobacteria Assessment Network (CyAN)
The mission of the CyAN project is to support the environmental management and public use of U.S. lakes and estuaries by providing a useful and accessible approach to detecting and quantifying algal blooms and related water quality using satellite data records.
What is CyAN: Mobile and web-based application for cyanobacteria monitoring
How does it work? Users can enter the coordinates or name of local water bodies for monitoring information.
The CyAN project officially started October 1, 2015. It provided continental U.S. coverage using the Envisat MERIS archive from 2002-2012
Sign up here: https://www.epa.gov/water-research/cyanobacteria-assessment-network-application-cyan-app
Centers for Disease Control
Environmental Public Health Tracking provides data and information on health outcomes, the environment, population, and exposures, including hazardous algal blooms occurring in water bodies of the USA, both freshwater and marine.
CDC Public Notice on Hazardous Algae Blooms
It is not possible to know if a large growth, or bloom, of algae or cyanobacteria (also called blue-green algae) is harmful just by looking at it. Some blooms make toxins (poisons), which can still be in the water even when you can’t see a bloom. Learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones from harmful algae and cyanobacteria, what to do if you or a pet is exposed to them, and how to help prevent these blooms.
Swimming and Wading: Stay out of water with a bloom, rinse off if you or your pets are in contact with water
If you see signs of a bloom, stay out of the water and keep your pets out of the water. Do not fish, swim, boat, or play water sports in areas where this is possible harmful algae or cyanobacteria.
Do not go into or play in water that:
- Smells bad
- Looks discolored
- Has foam, scum, algal mats, or paint-like streaks on the surface
- Has dead fish or other animals washed up on its shore or beach
Protect your pets and livestock from getting sick by keeping them away from water with possible harmful algae or cyanobacteria. Do not let animals:
- Get in the water
- Drink the water
- Lick or eat mats of cyanobacteria or algae
- Eat or graze near the water
- Eat dead fish or other animals on the shore
- Go on the beach or shoreline
If you or your pets do go in water that may have a bloom, rinse yourself and your pets immediately afterward with tap water from a sink, shower, hose, or outdoor spigot. Do not let pets lick their fur until they have been rinsed. Pets may have harmful algae, cyanobacteria, or related toxins on their fur if they swim or play in water with a bloom.
Do not fill pools with water directly from lakes, rivers, or ponds. The water could contain algal or cyanobacterial toxins or unsafe levels of germs.
Drinking Water:
Follow local guidance about toxins in tap water
If you are notified of cyanobacteria or their toxins in your public drinking water supply, follow guidance from your local or state government or water utility to reduce the chances of you or your animals getting sick.
Harmful cyanobacteria may grow in water bodies that supply tap water. Although many water treatment plants can remove these toxins, tap water can be contaminated in certain situations. Cyanobacteria can also produce substances that are not harmful, but can change the taste or smell of tap water.
If you have concerns about the appearance, smell, or taste of tap water that you are using, contact your water utility or health department. Consider using bottled water for drinking and cooking until the problem is resolved.
Don’t boil water contaminated with toxins. Boiling water does not remove toxins and can concentrate the toxin.
Fish and shellfish:
Be aware of advisories and health risks related to eating contaminated fish and shellfish
Avoid eating very large reef fish (such as grouper or amberjack), especially the head, gut, liver, or roe (eggs). Large reef fish may be contaminated with ciguatoxin, the algal toxin that causes ciguatera fish poisoning. See the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Fish and Fishery Products Hazards and Controls Guidance for more information on reef fish associated with unsafe levels of toxins.
Check for and follow local shellfish and fish advisories before eating any fish or shellfish you collect yourself. Algal and cyanobacterial toxins in fish or shellfish have no taste or odor. Cooking or preserving food does not remove toxins. Thus, you cannot tell if the seafood is safe by just looking at, smelling, or tasting it.
- Check to see if shellfish beds are closed. State shellfish control authorities (usually state health departments or other state agencies) are required to control for toxins where harmful algal blooms are likely to occur and toxins could build up in shellfish. Common ways state authorities control for algal toxins include routine monitoring for toxic algae or shellfish and testing shellfish for toxins before or after harvesting. If levels of toxins are unsafe, state authorities will close the area for shellfish harvesting until shellfish are safe to eat.
- Check safety advisories from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Fish and Shellfish Advisories and Safe Eating Guidelines website.
Report any concerns to your local public health authorities.
EPA notice to the public on harmful algae
Harmful algal blooms can be green, blue, red or brown. They can be scummy or look like paint on the surface of the water.
What are harmful algal blooms?
Harmful algal blooms are overgrowths of algae in water. Some produce dangerous toxins in fresh or marine water but even nontoxic blooms hurt the environment and local economies.
What are the effects of harmful algal blooms?
Harmful algal blooms can:
- Produce extremely dangerous toxins that can sicken or kill people and animals
- Create dead zones in the water
- Raise treatment costs for drinking water
- Hurt industries that depend on clean water
The EPA has a role in enforcing environmental protection regulations to limit discharges into water bodies that contribute to the growth of harmful algal blooms.
The EPA also maintains list of Impaired Water Bodies by state, those water bodies that are not supporting their ideal uses for recreation, including swimming, fishing and wading. The EPA works with state authorities to identify water bodies that are not supporting their intended recreational uses, to set daily maximum loads for contaminants and nutrient load for impaired water bodies. The EPA works with state and other federal agencies to investigate and prosecute violations of the Clean Water Act, with a role in ordering watershed plans that limit discharges to these water bodies to allow for recovery.
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