Westmeath County Council has confirmed the presence of algal bloom on Lough Owel.
In a statement to the Westmeath Examiner, council official Dave Hogan said that there is “evidence” of the blue-green algae – which earlier this year led to a bathing ban on Lough Ennell – on the eastern shore of Lough Owel as reported by the paper on Tuesday. The lake is the source of drinking water for all of Mullingar and much of the rest of Westmeath.
Mr Hogan added that the unseasonably low levels of rain in recent months may have played a part in the appearance of the algae. The toxic organism can cause rashes or eye infections in humans, and has been known to kill dogs within an hour…….
Westmeath Examiner 28/11/2013 Read the article ‘Council confirms toxic algal bloom on Lough Owel’
