The Cincinnati Health Department (CHD) and Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) have confirmed the presence of a harmful algal bloom (HAB) moving on the Ohio River. The HAB is in the vicinity of Cincinnati as well as other portions of the river upstream and downstream.

GCWW ensures that drinking water is safe, and CHD is urging residents to use caution when swimming or conducting other recreational water activities in the Ohio River until more is known about the HAB.

What is a Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB)?
HABs are made up of blue-green algae, also known as Cyanobacteria, photosynthetic bacteria, and "pond scum." It is most often blue-green in color, but can also be blue, green, reddish-purple or brown. Blue-green algae generally grow in lakes, ponds, and slow-moving streams.

Potential Health Impact
Contact with HABs can cause skin and eye irritation, stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, headache, fever, muscle weakness, or difficulty breathing. Because it is not always visible, CHD strongly advises people to bathe immediately, if they think they’ve come in contact with the substance. Anyone who may be experiencing symptoms related to exposure to algae should contact their health care provider, especially if they have been in contact with Ohio River water.

No Impact on Water Quality
Water quality monitoring by GCWW confirm that treatment processes are very effective in addressing this issue, and algal toxins have not been detected in the finished water. GCWW continues to test and monitor river conditions to ensure that the HAB is not impacting the quality of drinking water. The safety of drinking water is GCWW’s highest priority. GCWW has always met or exceeded all the state and federal health standards for drinking water.

Both CHD and GCWW are working together to monitor and communicate this situation, and working in collaboration with several partners and various local and state agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Department of Health, Hamilton County Public Health, and the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO), to inform the public regarding the HAB.
 

For more information about:

Health Impacts: www.cincinnati-oh.gov/health/

GCWW Drinking Water and Water Quality: www.myGCWW.org

Ohio Recreation Water Advisories: www.OhioAlgaeInfo.com

Commonwealth of KY statement: https://kydep.wordpress.com/