WATER MILL, NY — New blooms of cyanobacteria have been found in Mill Creek in Water Mill, the Suffolk County Health Department said this week.
Analysis of surface water samples conducted by SUNY Stony Brook confirmed the presence of the new cyanobacteria better known as blue-green algae.
Health officials asked residents not to use, swim or walk in the water and to keep children and pets away from the area.
Although blue-green algae occur naturally in lakes and streams in low numbers, they can become abundant, forming blooms in shades of green, blue-green, yellow, brown, or red. They can produce foams that float on the surface of the water or can make the water appear colored, health officials said.
Contact with water that appears dirty or discolored should be avoided. If contact occurs, rinse immediately with clean water. Seek medical attention if any of the following symptoms occur after contact: nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. skin, eye or throat irritation. or allergic reactions or breathing difficulties, health officials said.
To report a suspected blue-green algae bloom in a body of water containing a Suffolk County-permitted swimming beach, contact the Suffolk County Department of Health Services Ecology Bureau at 631-852-5760 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or by email at any time at scdhsweb@suffolkcountyny.gov.
To report a suspected blue-green algae bloom to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in a body of water that does not contain a permitted swimming beach in Suffolk County, email habsinfo@dec.ny.gov.
