Put-in-Bay importing water for Labor Day weekend because of algae issues

PUT-IN-BAY, Ohio - Unusually large clumps of toxic algae in Lake Erie are making life difficult for Put-in-Bay residents as the resort village prepares for an influx of visitors this Labor Day weekend.

The blue-green algal blooms have been clogging filters in the village's water treatment plant, slowing down the treatment process at the height of the tourist season.

That has prompted officials to ship in thousands of gallons of drinking water from the mainland to ensure an adequate supply.

"With the added stress on our filtration ... we found on one particular weekend that our tanks were going down faster than we were able to catch up," Put-in-Bay Mayor Judith Berry said Monday. "We're doing what we need to do in order to ensure that we've got enough water."

The first shipment of water was made last week, when 50,000 gallons were transported to Put-in-Bay on the Miller Boat Line. More water shipments are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, a ferry spokesman said.

Ms. Berry said the village has not yet concluded whether those shipments will be necessary, but said water usage this weekend is expected to increase because of the crowds.

She emphasized that the village has not run out of water and that the water treated at Put-in-Bay is safe to drink.

Meanwhile, Put-in-Bay residents and businesses are asked to curb their water usage by refraining from watering their lawns and washing cars.

Increased crowds and hot weather have exacerbated pressure on the village's water supply, Ms. Berry added.

Put-In-Bay's algae problems are by no means unique. Water treatment plants all along the Lake Erie shoreline are having to deal with larger-than-usual algae blooms this year, Ottawa County Sanitary Engineer Kelly Frey said.

Most plants have enough reserve capacity to deal with the additional stress on their filters, but Put-in-Bay does not, Mr. Frey said. The village is making plans to expand its water treatment plant next year, Ms. Berry said.

Put-in-Bay is in Ottawa County on South Bass Island, about 45 miles east of Toledo.

Mr. Frey said he worries the toxic algae blooms will continue to grow without new state and federal regulations to crack down on excessive phosphorus in the water.

Phosphorus is a common farm fertilizer and a component of fecal waste produced by humans and other animals.

The engineer said he is confident plants in the area can treat the algae-infested water, but he said the process becomes more difficult and expensive as the blooms expand.

"The whole thing is pretty interesting. And it's also very concerning," Mr. Frey said. "I'd say the Put-in-Bay water plant is the biggest reflection of the problem."

Algae also have a negative impact on the region's tourism, killing fish, dissuading boaters, and leading to swimming advisories in some areas, the official added.

A toxin advisory remained in effect Monday for Maumee Bay State Park in Oregon, where visitors were being advised to avoid direct contact with the water and algae. East Harbor State Park in Marblehead is under a bloom advisory, meaning visitors should not touch any algae.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is testing 11 public drinking water systems that draw their water from Lake Erie's western basin to see if they are contaminated with blue-green algae.

Those sites include the city of Oregon, Carroll Township, Ottawa County, Marblehead, Kelleys Island, Put-in-Bay, Middle Bass Island, Sandusky, and Huron.

A first round of tests revealed tiny levels of

microcystin, the toxin from algae that can make people sick, in treated waters in Oregon and Carroll Township. However, those levels were well below guidelines established by the World Health Organization. There are no EPA regulations on algal toxins in drinking water.

Results from the second round of tests will be released Thursday, EPA spokesman Dina Pierce said.

Recent testing in Toledo showed nondetectable levels of microcystins in the city's tap water, said public information officer Jen Sorgenfrei.

The testing revealed a level of 0.67 part per billion of microcystins at the city's raw intake of water, and less than 0.15 part per billion of the toxins in the city's tap water.

"That's very good," Ms. Sorgenfrei said. "That means our water is and continues to be safe."

Ms. Pierce said Put-in-Bay's struggle with its drinking water supply bears no relation to the 2004 scare on South Bass Island, when nearly 1,400 people are believed to have become sick from groundwater contamination.

Authorities traced the contamination to wells on the island that are no longer in use, Ms. Pierce said.

Contact Claudia Boyd-Barrett at:

cbarrett@theblade.com

or 419-724-6272.

31.02375 75.40457

Put- in- Bay, South Bass Island and Gibralter Island are shown in this file photo. Enlarge

Unusually large clumps of toxic algae in Lake Erie are making life difficult for Put-in-Bay residents as the resort village prepares for an influx of visitors this Labor Day weekend. The blooms have been clogging water treatment plant filters, slowing the treatment process and prompting shipments of drinking water from the mainland.