Can drinking water be contaminated with toxins from blue-green algae?
If drinking water is obtained from a surface water source during a blue-green algae bloom then it is possible that the water may become contaminated with toxins released during decomposition of the algae cells. Usually people wont drink water contaminated with blue-green algae blooms because of its unsightly pea soup appearance and foul smell. However, sometimes it is hard to tell if the drinking water has been contaminated unless confirmed by laboratory tests specifically for measuring microcystin levels.
