Bloomin' Algae

Blue-green algae naturally occur in lakes, ponds, canals, rivers
and reservoirs around the world. However they can produce toxins
that are harmful to the health of people and animals. These algae
are most commonly seen during the summer months, particularly in
calm warm conditions. They are microscopic but clump together in
visible colonies up to a few millimetres in size that can rise to
the surface and form thin wispy blooms or thick paint-like scums
if the numbers are very large.

Both the Environment Agency (EA) and the Scottish Environment
Protection Agency (SEPA) provide a blue-green algae analytical
service and advice to local authorities, water body owners, managers
etc. However there is no routine national algal bloom monitoring
system, and so records of past bloom events are patchy. By recording
blue-green algal blooms through this app, we hope to get a better
overall picture of the timing and location of algal blooms across
the UK, to help inform local authorities and relevant health agencies
of potential public health risks and aid the EA & SEPA in bloom
management and prevention in the future.

The app also asks you for details of what activities you are carrying
out in or around the water, as blue-green algal blooms pose a greater
risk to water-based activities, such as swimming or windsurfing,
compared to non-contact activities such as walking. By gathering
details of activities undertaken we hope to gain a better
understanding of how algal blooms are impacting recreational
use of freshwaters in the UK.