State: Avoid contact with Melville Pond in Portsmouth

Blue-Green algae bloom to blame

Posted 7/6/17

PORTSMOUTH — People should avoid contact with Melville Pond due to a blue-green algae (or cyanobacteria) bloom in the pond, advises the R.I. Department of Health (RIDOH) and R.I. …

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State: Avoid contact with Melville Pond in Portsmouth

Blue-Green algae bloom to blame

Posted

PORTSMOUTH — People should avoid contact with Melville Upper Pond and St. Mary’s Pond due to a recent blue-green algae (or cyanobacteria) bloom, advises the R.I. Department of Health (RIDOH) and R.I. Department of Environmental Management (DEM).

Blue-green algae can produce toxins that can harm humans and animals.

According to the state agencies, people should also be careful not to eat fish from the ponds, nor should they ingest water from the Melville pond or untreated water from St. Mary’s Pond.

St. Mary's Pond is a drinking water source maintained by Newport Water. Even when a cyanobacteria bloom is present in a pond, the treated water that Newport Water distributes to homes is safe, according to RIDOH and DEM. Treatment removes harmful bacteria, including cyanobacteria, before the water is delivered to customers, the state agencies say.

All recreation, including fishing, boating, and kayaking, should be avoided. Pets can also be affected by exposure to the algal toxins, so owners should not allow pets to drink or swim in the water. The advisory will remain in effect until further notice.

At Monday’s Town Council meeting, Town Administrator Richard Rainer Jr. said similar outbreaks of algae blooms have been reported at other ponds in Rhode Island and in many other states nationwide.

“The problem is not limited to just Portsmouth,” Mr. Rainer.

The administrator said the algae blooms are mainly caused by storm water runoff carrying nitrates from fertilizers used on lawns and farms.

To address the problem, Mr. Rainer said the town has a contract with SOLitude Lake Management and is also part of the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission’s Island Waters project, which is working on alleviating storm water pollution problems locally.

The town’s Melville Park Committee, meanwhile, has started dredging the area, Mr. Rainer said. (Dredging can help remove accumulated nutrient-rich sediments.)

Mr. Rainer said he’s not aware of any laws limiting the use of fertilizers by residents or famers. “All the data says this is going to be a long-term problem,” he said.

Council member Kevin Aguiar described Melville Upper Pond as a stagnant, shallow and warm-water pond.  

“It’s a perfect breeding ground (for algae blooms), I hate to say it,” he said.

Dangers of algae blooms

Skin contact with water containing blue-green algae commonly causes irritation of the skin, nose, eyes, and/or throat. Common health effects associated with ingesting water containing algal toxins include stomach ache, diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. 

Rarer health effects include dizziness, headache, fever, liver damage, and nervous system damage. Young children and pets are at a particular risk for health effects associated with algal toxins. 

People who have had contact with Melville Pond and experience those symptoms should contact their healthcare provider.

If you come into contact with the water, rinse your skin with clean water as soon as possible and, when you get home, take a shower and wash your clothes. Similarly, if your pet comes into contact with the water, immediately wash your pet with clean water. 

Do not let the animal lick algae off its fur. Call a veterinarian if your animal shows any symptoms of blue-green algae poisoning, including loss of energy, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, or any unexplained sickness that occurs within a day or so after being in contact with water. 

People are cautioned that toxins may persist in the water after the blue-green algae bloom is no longer visible.

It is possible that blue-green algae blooms may be affecting other waterbodies in Rhode Island. People are advised to avoid contact with waterbodies that exhibit bright green coloration in the water or at the water surface and/or dense floating algal mats that form on the water’s surface. The water may look like green paint, thick pea soup, or green cottage cheese. 

Report blooms

To report suspected blue-green algae blooms, contact DEM’s Office of Water Resources at 401/222-4700 or DEM.OWRCyano@dem.ri.gov. If possible, send a photograph of the reported algae bloom.

Melville Pond

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