A state of emergency has been declared in Toledo(a city where I was graduated), Ohio’s fourth largest
city, and its surrounding suburbs after the contamination was discovered
late on Friday.
Up to half a million residents of one of the
largest cities in Ohio are without safe drinking water after a dangerous
toxin was discovered in the supply.
Restaurants and even the local zoo have been forced to close as a
result of the crisis, thought to be caused by a “harmful algal bloom” at
the water’s source in Lake Erie, according to city officials.
The
National Guard has been called in to bring water to the area after a
warning against drinking from the tap sparked a shopping frenzy for
clean bottled water.
Results from tests had been expected back yesterday, according to USA
Today, after the toxin was discovered in an area water treatment plant. Blue-green algae are naturally found in lakes and ponds around Ohio.
Algal blooms in Lake Erie have become fairly common in recent years,
especially in the summer months, emergency operations spokesman Chris
Abbruzzese told Reuters.
The blooms are rapid increases in algae
levels caused by high amounts of nitrogen and phosphorous which can come
from runoff water from heavily fertilized fields, farms and gardens or
broken septic tanks.
Drinking the contaminated water could result in vomiting, diarrhea and other problems.
Boiling
it will not remove the toxins, however, and residents have been advised
to not even brush their teeth with it, though showers and baths are
said to be permitted.
Source: USA Today
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