Water advisory issued for lake raises concerns

Blue-green algae in Lac Ste. Anne are cause for concern for more than the people who waded into the lake during the annual pilgrimage.

“We get our water from Lac Ste. Anne,” said Chief Cameron Alexis, of the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation. “Now we’re being told don’t go into the water, don’t drink the water, don’t let your animals drink the water.”

The First Nation of 1,200 residents is located on the shores of Lac Ste. Anne and is the only community to access its drinking water from that lake.

Alberta Health Services issued an advisory for the water in Lac Ste. Anne on July 24 because of the presence of blue-green algae.

The advisory directs people to stay out of the lake, not to drink the water or allow animals to drink it, and to limit consumption of fish from the lake.

Blue-green algae produce a toxin that can cause serious illness to animals or humans who drink or have skin contact with the water.

Alexis was initially concerned that the First Nation’s water treatment plant would not be able to adequately deal with the blue-green algae.

A few days after the advisory had been issued, Alexis was still waiting to hear back from Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Canada regarding the capacity of the band’s water treatment plant.

“First Nations have been calling out through the federal and provincial realms that water is a key concern, potable water and sewage control,” said Alexis. “Now we have these situations happening and my goodness, we don’t have any place else to get water, not Alexis.”

Bill S-8, the Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act, which was introduced in the Senate and then received first reading in the House of Commons in mid-June, provides for the development of federal regulations, which may incorporate provincial regulations, governing the provisions of safe drinking water and quality waste water disposal in First Nations. However, many First Nations have criticized the bill because although it sets out standards there is no funding available to help reserves meet those standards.

“First Nations in Alberta as well as other parts of the country have been screaming for potable water and adequate funding and this is a prime example why,” said Alexis.

If water had to be trucked in, Alexis said his band would have difficulty finding the money to cover the cost.
“We don’t have the finances to address the situation whether short term or long term,” he said.

However, according to Health Canada, the Alexis Nakota Sioux doesn’t have to be concerned about the blue-green algae in Lac Ste. Anne at this point because the conventional treatment used by its water plant is suitable for dealing with the toxin.

“Alexis First Nation’s water treatment plant is equipped to manage incidents of blue-green algae in the water it treats,” said Olivia Caron, media relations officer with Health Canada, in an email interview.

“Tests conducted to date have consistently determined that the level of ‘total microcystins’ (indicator toxin for blue-green algae) are well below guideline limits in raw and treated water samples from the Alexis water treatment plant,” said Caron.

The blue-green algae advisory came in the midst of the Lac Ste. Anne pilgrimage which draws thousands of people, mostly First Nations and Métis, from across the country, who believe the lake has healing powers. Many people return home with jars of lake water. The pilgrimage began July 21, three days before the growth of algae was noted by Alberta Health and the advisory issued.

“My understanding is that for the pilgrimage, most of the people were in the water on Sunday (July 22). Probably not very much risk on the Sunday and we haven’t heard of anybody getting sick or having any rash, so we don’t think anybody had any health problems as a result of that,” said Dr. Gerry Predy, senior medical officer of health for Alberta Health Services.

Predy said blue-green algae is fairly common in prairie lakes, which are shallow and stagnant. Warmer weather allows the micro-organisms to grow and faster growth is promoted as runoff enters the lake and more people and animals use the lake.  Blue-green algae take several weeks to dissipate.  Alberta Health Services will continue to monitor the lake.