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UPDATE: Do-Not-Drink Water Advisory Issued for City of Toledo, in Effect Until Further Notice

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Sun, 2014-08-03 20:47 — Kathy Gilbeaux

National Wildlife Federation CEO Collin O’Mara checks out the algal bloom in Western Lake Erie near the water intake facility for the City of Toledo during a visit to the site with local and national officials and local media. Toledo Free Press photo by Sarah Ottney

toledofreepress.com - August 3, 2014

The City of Toledo issued an urgent water advisory early Saturday morning. The advisory is still in effect as of Sunday.

City of Toledo residents and regional residents (including portions of Lucas, Wood, Fulton and Monroe counties) who receive water from the city are asked to not drink city water until further notice, including water that has been boiled. Water should also not be given to pets.

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(ALSO SEE RELATED ARTICLE HERE )

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Sun, 2014-08-03 21:20 — Kathy Gilbeaux

cleveland.com - by Mary Kilpatrick - August 2, 2014

TOLEDO, Ohio -- It's not safe to drink or use the water in most of Northwest Ohio, The Toledo Blade reports. A water advisory was announced about 2 a.m. Saturday by the city of Toledo.

Test samples showed that the levels of a toxin called microcystin in the water was too high for consumption, according to the newspaper. Lake Erie algae blooms produce the pollutant.

You should not brush your teeth, or shower with the water, Toledo News Now reports. You should not give it to your pets. Boiling the water will not make it safe: It will only increase concentration of the toxin, according to the news outlet. 

Read more of The Blade's report here. Read more of Toledo News Now report here. Northeast Ohio Media Group is heading to Toledo, and will update the story with more information once we have it.

The affected areas include:

Toledo
Bedford
Walbridge
Northwood
Troy Township
Perrysburg
Rossford
Walbridge
Lake Township
Maumee
Sylvania
Perrysburg
Perrysburg Township
Ottawa Hills
Erie Township
Village of Metamora
Eastern Swan Creek Township
Village of Whitehouse
Luna Pier

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/08/toxins_force_a_do_not_drink_wa.html

Sun, 2014-08-03 21:30 — Kathy Gilbeaux

thinkprogress.org - by Emily Atkin - August 3, 2014

Approximately 400,000 people in and around Toledo, Ohio are being warned not to drink their tap water after high levels of a dangerous toxin were discovered in the water supply Saturday, according to the Toledo-Lucas County Department of Health.

The toxin is called microcystin, the high levels of which were caused by massive increases in algae on Lake Erie. The increases in algae, called “algae blooms”, are poisonous if consumed — causing abnormal liver function, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, numbness, and dizziness. Boiling the water doesn’t help — in fact, it increases the presence of the toxin.

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