Schumer seeks EPA guidance on toxic algae potential in lakes, ponds
Scott Donnelly
With the incidents of algae blooms in New York waterways and lakes on the rise, more needs to be done to protect residents from a potentially toxic strain called cyanobacteria, according to U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.
“Lakes are some of upstate New York’s greatest resources — for tourism, recreation and for healthy drinking water — but toxic algae blooms threaten to greatly undercut the value of this resource, and what’s more, have the potential to contaminate drinking water and make people sick,” Schumer said Wednesday in a conference call.
Efforts by the state Department of Environmental Conservation and other organizations to track and report toxic algae blooms don’t go far enough, he said. He called on the Environmental Protection Agency to issue guidance and recommendations to local municipalities about how to ensure safe drinking water and safe use of lakes by residents.
According to DEC records, blue-green algae blooms were reported on two lakes in the Glens Falls region in 2013.
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