Learn About & Check Utah Recreational Water Quality

What is a Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB)?

Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae or harmful algae, aren’t actually algae. Rather, they are aquatic bacteria that photosynthesize like a plant.

There are two types of harmful algae that you should know about:

Harmful algal blooms and mats occur when cyanobacteria multiply quickly to form visible colonies of millions of cells. Sometimes the cyanobacteria that form these blooms can produce toxins which cause illness and can damage the human kidney, liver, or neurologic system. Pets and livestock are more likely to drink water and be hurt by these toxins.

What are the Health Effects of Harmful Algae?

HABs can cause skin irritation, gastrointestinal illnesses, and in some cases permanent organ damage or death. You can be exposed to the harmful effects of cyanobacteria by:

In the event you or your pet comes into contact with a HAB, rinse off with clean, fresh water as soon as possible. Remove yourself from the source of exposure and contact the Utah Poison Control Center (UPCC) at (800) 222-1222. UPCC physicians, pharmacists, and nurses trained in toxicology can answer your questions and advise you on the need for further medical or veterinary treatment.

People or animals who are exposed to cyanotoxins may experience the following symptoms:

How can I help stop Harmful Algal Blooms?

Excess nutrients, particularly phosphorus, in water bodies can trigger algal blooms. Discharges from wastewater treatment plants, runoff from agricultural operations, and stormwater runoff can carry nitrogen and phosphorus into waterways and promote the growth of cyanobacteria.

You can do your part to improve water quality!

Reducing nutrient loads to waters is the best way to limit the occurrence of harmful algal blooms. Please visit DWQ’s Nutrient Reduction page for more information on Utah’s efforts to reduce nutrient pollution in our waters.

We also rely on community members to help us spot developing HABs. Join the HAB Squad to assist in monitoring a waterbody near you!

What are Waterborne Pathogens (E. coli)?

Waterborne pathogens are bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can make people sick. These waterborne pathogens can cause diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, fever, and rashes. Escherichia coli (or E. coli for short) is used to measure how likely it is that waterborne pathogens are in recreational water. People are at risk for infection when they swallow water with high levels of E. coli or eat food after exposure without washing their hands.

Recreational water illnesses can be caused by bacteria such as shigella and E. coli, viruses such as norovirus, and parasites such as cryptosporidium and giardia. Symptoms may appear immediately, but some may occur one to two weeks after exposure.

Contact the Utah Poison Control Center at  (800) 222-1222 or a physician if experiencing an illness that may be related to recreating in untreated surface water.

Health impacts

Recreational activities such as swimming, tubing, water skiing, paddle boarding, and water play increase risk of exposure to waterborne pathogens that can make people sick.

Identifying and responding to a harmful algal bloom (HAB) on your private lake or pond.

How can I help prevent waterborne pathogens?

Preventing fecal contamination is the best way to limit the occurrence of waterborne pathogens. You can do your part to improve water quality by taking the following steps:

Stormwater detention ponds and irrigation canals

You should never swim in urban or suburban ponds or irrigation canals. These waters accumulate bacteria, chemicals, and fecal material and can cause serious illness.

Some stormwater ponds are monitored and sampled for waterborne pathogens, stocked with fish, and may even include boat ramps. The public should avoid them anyway–they are not designed for recreational use.

HABs and waterborne pathogens pose a threat to Utah’s water-based recreation, culinary water supplies, aquatic ecosystems, and agricultural and residential (secondary) irrigation uses. Multiple agencies manage and protect these uses and users. DEQ has worked with its partners to help response agencies develop health advisory guidance and response plans.