Palm Beach health officials issue Oct. 23 algae alert for three Lake Okeechobee locations
A Palm Beach County health alert names three Lake Okeechobee sites sampled Oct. 21 and outlines precautions around visible blooms.
Key Takeaways
- •The alert names LZ40, PALMOUT3 and LZ30; samples were taken Oct. 21.
- •Avoid contact with water where a visible bloom is present.
- •Boiling bloom-contaminated water does not eliminate toxins.
The Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County issued a health alert Oct. 23 for three Lake Okeechobee locations: LZ40, PALMOUT3 and LZ30. The agency said the samples were collected Oct. 21 and advised caution around those areas. The notice concerns named sites, not a closure of the entire lake.
The department advises people not to drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft or otherwise contact water where a visible bloom is present. Anyone who contacts algae or discolored, unpleasant-smelling water should wash exposed skin and clothing with soap and water. The alert also says to keep pets and livestock away from affected water and provide another water source while blooms are present.
Do not cook with or wash dishes in water contaminated by an algae bloom, the department says; boiling does not eliminate toxins. The notice says healthy fish fillets from freshwater lakes experiencing blooms can be eaten when rinsed, gutted and thoroughly cooked, but shellfish from bloom waters should not be eaten.
The state Department of Environmental Protection directs residents to its sample collection and bloom-status tools for current water-quality information. The alert itself does not state toxin concentrations, and the DEP dashboard landing page did not independently confirm sample-level results in this review. Check the agencies’ current notices before visiting the lake or making water-use decisions.
