Griffith City Council has advised that Lake Wyangan North is now on Red Alert, with residents and visitors warned to cease all water-based activities on the lake.
The Council confirmed that the most recent sample taken from the lake on 26 October, was a total BGA of 10.2893mmɜ/L, which is considered a Red Alert.
A Red Alert level warning indicates that people should not undertake recreational activities where they may be coming into direct contact with the water such as swimming, as well as domestic uses including showering and washing. Contact with the water may also pose a threat to livestock and pets, the Council warned.
“Warning signs are positioned at key recreational areas and will remain in place while high levels of blue-green algae are present,” Council said in a statement.
“People are advised not to enter the water, drink untreated water or bathe in water drawn from the Lake while this Red Alert level warning is in place.
“Before consumption, any fish caught should be cleaned and washed thoroughly in uncontaminated water and any internal organs disposed of appropriately.”
At Council’s meeting this week, Councillors resolved to explore options to improve water quality at Lake Wyangan.
Mayor, Doug Curran said increasing water levels was one of the measures Council was progressing.
“We know that an increase in water level improves water quality, and Council is working with Murrumbidgee Irrigation to put 1,000 ML of our water allocation into the Lake, starting next week,” he said.
“Increasing water levels has also been supported by the Lake Wyangan and Catchment Management Committee as part of discussions around improving water quality at the Lake.”
Council will monitor the level of Blue Green Algae on a regular basis and provide updates via the website: https://www.griffith.nsw.gov.au/lake-wyangan-water-quality.
