An emergency alert went out early this morning warning people to avoid any contact with water from Grand Lake, after one person was sent to hospital and animals were killed.
All people "who have water feeds from Grand Lake are to cease using the water immediately," the alert said. "Do not consume, do not drink, do not bathe, do not use to cook, do not boil, do not allow pets in the water. Do not go in the water by foot or by boat at any time, unless this order is rescinded."
The alert didn't say how many animals had died or if they were pets or wild animals, But sources say paramedics called firefighters to assess a scene where two dogs had died and a person became ill after trying to take a sample of "sludge" from the water.
A woman who lives on nearby Meadowvale Lane off Park Road said a grown dog and a puppy, both golden retrievers, had passed away.
"The lady who was taken to hospital is now out of the hospital," the Meadowvale Lane resident who did not want to be identified said.
She said the woman was taken to hospital at about suppertime Wednesday.
The woman said her home is on a well but police did stop by late Wednesday evening to warn residents about the water.
"You can't drink the water, can't go near the water, can't even boil the water and use it, if you get the water from the lake."
A man who lives close to the park entrance said he was watching the hockey game Wednesday night when police arrived with the warning.
The man said he doesn't know much about the situation but that he and several of his neighbours draw water directly from the lake and use their filtration systems.
"It's a concern, absolutely, until we hear what's going on," said the man, who, too, did not want to be identfied, as he sipped a coffee brewed with bottled water.
"We can't have a shower, might have to get a motel for a few nights," said the man who convinced his wife three years ago to move to the peaceful, private area to get away from the city.
He said the park is a busy area, especially the last couple of days when the temperatures spiked.
"A lot of people were looking for a place just to jump in the water," he said. "It's a beautiful place to walk.
Environment staff experts will take samples from Grand Lake this morning using appropriate safety protocols. We have no information to suggest there is a concern in any other lakes at this time.
— NS Environment and Climate Change (@ns_environment) June 10, 2021
Environment Department spokesperson Tracey Barron said there has been a lot of chatter about blue-green algae, but she can’t say whether that is the issue until testing of the water is done.
“Obviously there’s something, because the dogs died,” she said. “We know we’re dealing with something, and the appropriate safety precautions are being taken by staff when they go to collect those samples.”
She said they need some time to do the work, and she expects an update on their findings and what they think a little later. We may know more, or we may be in a situation that it’s too soon (to say).”
She said she expects there to be an update around 11 a.m.
There are at least nine Grand Lakes in Nova Scotia. The official name of this lake is Shubenacadie Grand Lake.
Halifax Water posted on Facebook about 6 a.m. that its "water continues to be safe for normal use and consumption. Halifax Water operates three small water systems within the same watershed as Grand Lake: Bomont, Collins Park, and Bennery Lake. None of these systems draw water from Grand Lake. Halifax Water tap water remains safe for normal use and consumption throughout HRM."
The utility said it will post any further updates here.
As well, East Hants Municipality posted on social media that: "There is no current known risk to our East Hants Water Utility customers. The situation is being monitored closely and more information will be shared as soon as possible."
Andrew Watson lives in Enfield behind the RCMP detachment and walks the trails at Grand Lake almost every day.
"I don't drink the water," Watson said as he sat in his truck by the park entrance with three or four bottles of water next to him. "I never did drink tap water, just the bottled water. I’ve always done that no matter where I lived. I’ve only been out here for eight months but I lived in Tantallon and we had well water."
Watson said he had heard the water trouble might be caused by leaching off the nearbly golf course, "but I kind of doubt that."
The alert came a few hours after Halifax firefighters were sent to a hazmat (hazardous materials call) at about 9 p.m. on Oakfield Park Road.
The warning called it "an unknown issue" with the lake water.
The province's Environment Department said staff are taking samples from Grand Lake this morning.
"We have no information to suggest there is a concern in any other lakes at this time," the department said in a tweet posted at 9 a.m.
But for Kayla Bolivar, who spent the past humid few days cooling off in Grand Lake, said the emergency alert caused her concern, but also confusion.
"Little nervous to hear considering they are still unsure what's causing this illness," Bolivar said Thursday morning. "Especially when I was there yesterday canoeing for nine hours and splashing water on myself to cool off and climbing in and out of the canoe."
Bolivar said she, a few of her friends and a couple of the kids that were with her yesterday haven't had any health issues so far.
"I did happen to see a couple of dead fish floating in the lake as well, but that could also be Mother Nature," she said.
A problem that can occur in warmer weather is the blooming of blue-green algae — bacteria that live at the surface of freshwater sources and produce toxins that can make people and animals sick.
The woman who lives on Meadowvale said dead fish are not unusual in the area, as gaspereau run from Fish Lake to Grand Lake right past her house.
If the stream connecting the two is two low or dry, the fish can perish, she said.
"All through our yards," she said of where the dead fish end up. "The birds take them, the foxes them and bury them, and dogs eat them."
By mid-morning, a park employee was standing by the gate to the park but was allowing people entrance after providing information about staying away from the water.
More to come
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMimAFodHRwczovL3d3dy5zYWx0d2lyZS5jb20vYXRsYW50aWMtY2FuYWRhL25ld3MvZW1lcmdlbmN5LWFsZXJ0LWlzc3VlZC1mb3ItZ3JhbmQtbGFrZS1ub3J0aC1vZi1oYWxpZmF4LWFmdGVyLXdhdGVyLXNpY2tlbnMtcGVyc29uLWtpbGxzLWFuaW1hbHMtMTAwNTk4MjgxL9IBAA?oc=5
2021-06-10 09:43:20Z
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