Dozens of signs alerting people to the dangers of algae poisoning are set to be placed around Windermere, England's largest lake. Approximately 40 notice boards will be installed at Windermere in the Lake District, warning visitors about blue-green algae blooms, which can produce toxins harmful to humans and potentially fatal to pets.
These blooms occur naturally but are more frequent in warm, dry weather and are made worse by nutrients from phosphate found in pollutants such as sewage. The Environment Agency (EA) is funding an additional 40 signs for other locations across Cumbria.
The Love Windermere Partnership, which includes organisations like the EA and Lake District National Park Authority, stated that the permanent signs are being installed in response to requests for "clearer and more consistent public information." The notices will describe what blue-green algae looks like and offer guidance on where to find current bloom information and how to report suspected sightings using the Bloomin' Algae app.
Liz Cheslett-Davey, catchment co-ordinator at the EA, noted that algae can "appear quickly and the conditions that encourage it to form aren't always easy to predict." She added that clear on-site signage would help people "make informed decisions about using the water safely." Last month, a dog reportedly died after ingesting algae at Coniston Water.