Blue-green algae bloom in Owasco Lake has Auburn City Council asking Gov. Hochul for help

AUBURN, N.Y. — Thursday night, the Auburn City Council voted on two resolutions asking Gov. Kathy Hochul to act on recent water quality issues in the city.

In 2016, cyanotoxins derived from harmful algal blooms were found in Owasco Lake – Auburn’s source of water.

Cyanotoxins, known as microcystins, are a class of toxins produced by certain freshwater blue-green algae.

These cyanotoxins were also found in the drinking water that Auburn provides to over 40,000 residents.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), exposure to cyanobacteria may produce allergic reactions such as skin rashes, eye irritations, respiratory symptoms and in some cases gastroenteritis, liver and kidney failure or death.

The most widespread of these toxins is microcystin, a potent liver toxin and possible human carcinogen.

In the past seven years since the cyanotoxins were discovered in Owasco Lake, the City of Auburn has continually asked former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and current Gov. Hochul to meaningfully address the water quality issues.

As a result of treating the microcystins, the Auburn City Council is now concerned about the recent maximum contaminant level of trihalomethanes found in the drinking water supply.

Trihalomethanes (THMs) are the result of a reaction between the chlorine used for disinfecting tap water and natural organic matter in the water.

At elevated levels, THMs have been associated with negative health effects.

The first resolution voted on Thursday’s agenda asked for the development, adoption and implementation of a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) comprehensive cleanup plan for Owasco Lake.

Approved by the EPA, a TMDL is the calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant allowed to enter a waterbody so that the waterbody will meet and continue to meet water quality standards for that particular pollutant.

The second resolution asked for the proposed Owasco Watershed Rules and Regulations to be approved as they were submitted in October of 2020 by the Auburn City Council and Owasco Town Board.

Both resolutions were passed unanimously by Auburn City Council.

The council is hoping that Gov. Hochul will see the urgency of water quality issues of the Owasco Lake and immediately propose a TMDL be developed for the watershed, and expedite the proposed rules and regulations designed to protect the lake.