Algae advisories extended

A blue-green algae warning for Marion Reservoir and a less serious watch for Marion County Lake were continued Friday by Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

This will be the sixth consecutive week for the reservoir to be under an algae warning. This week, nine other bodies of water in Kansas — including Herington Reservoir and portions of Milford Lake — are subject to warnings.

Warnings typically result in closing swimming beaches. Contact with both lake and reservoir water should be avoided. Visitors whose skin contacts the water should rinse with fresh water as soon as possible afterward.

Humans and pets should not drink lake water nor eat dried algae. Fish taken remain safe to eat but only after being rinsed with fresh water and all but the filet portion is discarded.

Swimming and skiing are discouraged, especially near algae blooms. Some boaters may experience difficulty if they inhale spray, according to the state.

When they are crushed or die, blue-green algae release invisible toxins that can cause anything from mild skin irritation to potentially fatal neurological damage.

Municipal water supplies remain safe. Treatment plants in Marion and Hillsboro have special equipment, not always available at other water treatment plants, that neutralize algae toxins.