Whatcom County Public Health has issued a warning for residents who get their drinking water directly from Lake Samish, saying they could get sick. Health officials stressed the alert is aimed at people who rely on private drinking systems drawing water straight from the lake, rather than the general public served by treated municipal supplies.
The concern stems from a recent water test. Officials say the test found increased levels of a toxin that could be produced by blue-green algae, the kind of bloom that can develop in freshwater during warm summer months and, in higher concentrations, pose a health risk to people and animals.
For most people, the current readings do not cross into dangerous territory. According to the county, recent testing shows safe levels for healthy adults and for children over six years old, meaning the majority of residents drawing from the lake are not considered to be at immediate risk from the toxin.
The picture is different for more sensitive residents. Health officials caution that the water might not be safe for people in vulnerable groups, including those with weakened immune systems, who can be more susceptible to the effects of the toxin than the general population.
To reduce the risk, the county is urging affected households to change how they source their water. Officials recommend that anyone whose water intake is near the lake use a different water source, such as bottled water, until conditions improve, and they also advise residents to keep their pets out of the lake.
Not every use of the lake carries the same warning. Officials say that bathing and hand washing are still considered safe, drawing a distinction between routine contact with the water and actually drinking it, which is where the toxin poses the greater concern.
The county also signaled that monitoring will continue through the season. Crews are set to return to the beach weekly throughout the summer to keep checking that the water remains safe, allowing officials to track the algae situation and update guidance for residents as conditions change.