Blue-Green Algae Confirmed in Mill Pond in Water Mill

Cyanobacteria, which is known as blue-green algae, has been confirmed at Mill Pond in Water Mill and in Roth Pond at the State University’s Stony Brook campus. Cyanobaccteria blooms, which were previously detected, remained at Agawam Lake in Southampton as of Friday. The toxic algae were detected in samples taken by researchers at Stony Brook.

County health officials have asked residents not to swim, wade, or use these water bodies and to keep pets and children away from them.

Though blue-green algae are naturally present in lakes and streams in low numbers, they can form abundant blooms in shades of green, blue-green, yellow, brown, or red, and may produce floating scums on the surface of the water or cause the water to take on a paint-like appearance. Contact with waters that appear scummy or discolored should be avoided.

If contact does occur, clean water should be used to rinse the area immediately. Medical attention should be sought if nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea follows, or if skin, eye, throat irritation, allergic reactions, or breathing difficulties occur.

To report a suspected blue-green algae bloom at a body of water that contains a county-designated bathing beach, the Department of Health Services’ office of ecology can be contacted at 631-852-5760 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., or by email at [email protected].

The Division of Water at the State Department of Environmental Conservation can be contacted to report a suspected blue-green algae bloom in a water body that is not a county sanctioned bathing beach at 518-402-8179 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., or via email at [email protected].

The D.E.C.’s harmful algal bloom notification page, at dec.ny.gov/chemical/ 83310.html, features a comprehensive list of affected water bodies.