Elevated Levels of Blue-green Algae Toxin Detected in City of Wellington Drinking Water: Water Acceptable for All Uses

Sumner Newscow report — Samples collected by the City of Wellington reported levels of a blue-green algae toxin called microcystins in drinking water delivered to consumers. The levels in drinking water exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 10-day Health Advisory levels of 0.3 micrograms per liter of microcystins for bottle-fed infants and children under 6 years old. For children over 6 years and adults, the water remains acceptable for drinking, food preparation, and all household use. Do not boil the water before use, as boiling will only concentrate the microcystin.

Microcystins entered the public water supply due to blue-green algae blooms occurring in Wellington City Lake, which is the source of water for the City of Wellington’s water supply.

The City of Wellington Public Water Supply is working with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and will continue to monitor the public water supply. Additional samples will be collected and sent to the laboratory for analysis to confirm the microcystins levels consistently remain below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 10-day Health Advisory level of 0.3 micrograms per liter of microcystins for bottle-fed infants and children under 6 years old in drinking water delivered to consumers.

Additional information can be found at EPA’s website: Harmful Algal Blooms and Cyanotoxins in Drinking Water.

People and animals should always take steps to stay away from any blooms in surface waters because contact can make people and animals sick.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Wellington Public Water Supply System at: (620) 434-5353 or the KDHE Public Water Supply Section at: (785) 296-5514.