Toxins from harmful algal blooms have been detected in Auburn’s raw water supply, city officials announced.
The Auburn Citizen reports that microcystins, produced by these blooms, were found in raw water from Owasco Lake by water treatment plant operators.
The plant utilized its powdered activated carbon system, implemented in 2017, to treat the water, ensuring no microcystins were present in the finished drinking water. This detection follows the closure of bathing beaches at Camp Y-Owasco and the Owasco Yacht Club due to algal blooms.
Tensions persist as Auburn and local leaders continue a lawsuit against state agencies over the lack of updated watershed rules, a process stalled by the New York State Department of Health. Despite the presence of algal toxins, state health officials maintain that existing regulations are adequate for maintaining water quality.
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