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Yahoo
07-08-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Is your water discolored? Here's what's causing it
[Watch related coverage in the player above: Thousands of dead fish wash up on Lake Erie beach] CLEVELAND (WJW) — Cleveland Water customers on Monday took to social media to report receiving water that is yellow- or green-colored. The discoloration is due to low oxygen levels in Lake Erie, which has caused excess minerals to dissolve in the water coming into the Crown Water Treatment Plant along Clague Road in Westlake, a Cleveland Water spokesperson told FOX 8 News on Monday afternoon. Local bait shop closing; all items up for auction It's affecting customers in the water department's northwestern service area, according to the spokesperson. FOX 8 News on Monday saw reports from Lakewood, Rocky River and Bay Village. 'While unsightly, there are no health concerns or drinking water advisories. Water is safe to use as normal,' the spokesperson wrote in an email. 'We are working to resolve the discoloration as quickly as possible.' Cleveland Water has since changed up its water treatment methods, according to the spokesperson. The water coming out of the plant now is clear, but discolored water may still remain in the Cleveland Water distribution system. Workers are now flushing hydrants in the affected area to get rid of the rest. Cleveland Water customers with concerns about water quality can call 216-664-2639. 7 charged in local child sex sting Lake Erie's central basin supplies drinking water to more than 2 million people, according to the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, which forecasts the lake's oxygen levels. Hypoxic upwelling, the same natural phenomenon blamed for the recent deaths of thousands of freshwater drum found along a Euclid shoreline last week, can also affect drinking water supply, according to the centers. In summer, the lake stratifies, and warm water settles on top while cold water settles on the bottom and loses its oxygen content. Strong winds may then push the cold, oxygen-depleted water closer to the shore. 'This can cause a sudden degradation to the water quality at nearshore drinking water intakes,' reads the center's website. 'These events require rapid adjustments to the treatment process in order to maintain drinking water quality. As the upwelling events largely occur with an irregular frequency, local decision makers need timely warnings of the conditions that may cause them.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
New York Post
06-08-2025
- New York Post
Hazardous bacterial bloom hitting US lakes is a danger to people and pets, officials warn
No need for vacationers to test the waters here, experts say. The summer vacation spoiler has been identified as a cyanobacterial bloom — and the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) says that the crummy blue-green conditions seem to be spreading, with a noticeable increase in scale since Aug. 2. Currently, the contamination stretches approximately 160 miles and impacts coastal communities, ranging from Monroe, Michigan, to Port Clinton, Ohio. The Buckeye State's beloved Sandusky Bay is an especially adversely affected area and has comparatively strong concentrations of cyanobacteria — and cyanotoxins, a byproduct of the microorganisms — in the lake water. The Ohio Department of Health has advised residents and visitors along the western shore of Lake Erie to keep out of the water due to 'unsafe levels' of bacterial contamination. In concentrated amounts, cyanotoxins can result in mild conditions ranging from diarrhea, headaches and skin irritation to more serious, life-threatening states depending on prior conditions, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Lake Erie is a popular weekend getaway destination for Midwesterners and New Yorkers alike looking to beat the heat for a few days. Jacek Chabraszewski – 'If you see scum, keep your pets and yourself out of the water,' urged the NCCOS in a statement. The organization also said that the bloom can be particularly intense during certain weather conditions. During calm, low wind periods, it gathers on the surface as 'scum,' rather than being broken up by the Great Lake's raucous waves. The NCCOS maintains that over the past decade or so, concentrated cyanobacteria sightings in Lake Erie have become more common, especially from June to October. The EPA explained that the microorganisms are 'very important to aquatic ecosystems' because they are photosynthetic — which is why conditions are worse in summertime — and support marine food webs; however, excessive growth can lead to concerns for aquatic and human health alike. Bearing that in mind, those looking to watch where they wade this summer can take a peek at a consistently updated map of Lake Erie by NCCOS that specifically monitors algal blooms. Lake Erie is also commonly recognized as the most polluted of the Great Lakes, per research by the University of Michigan. SVDPhoto – While the recent blooms don't impact lakegoers in New York, The Empire State has been exposed to its own fair share of aquatic advisories this summer — even trendy Hamptons beaches have been affected. Windmill Beach in Sag Harbor was rated the 7th worst bacteria-rated beach in the U.S. this year, per a report from Surfrider Foundation — and just two years back, the EPA reported that over half of New York beaches are contaminated by sewage and feces.
