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Blue Green Algae Closes Pittock Reservoir

Thursday, 18 July 2013 11:10

If you're headed down to Pittock for a dip this afternoon, think again. Oxford Public Health has posted the reservoir as unsafe for swimming after blue green algae was found. Manager of Public Health & Emergency Services Mary Metcalfe says it's the first sighting in Oxford this year. "We had a report early this week that there was a scum on the surface of Pittock and upon investigation found the blue green algae there and we have seen it some other years on Pittock as well so we have posted signs encouraging people not to swim in the area." Metcalfe says toxins from blue-green algae may irritate the skin, eyes, ears and throat, and may produce hay fever-like symptoms and she strongly advises against entering the water. Metcalfe says the extremely warm temperatures and the still air has caused the algae to grow. The reservoir will continue to be posted as unsafe until the algae dissipates.

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