On October 5, 2015 White Lake experienced a significant blue-green algal bloom. The extent of the bloom covered most of the lake. Although surface accumulation of the algae was not as great as in 2014, the entire water column from the surface to depth contained large quantities of Anaboena blue green algae (see micrographs below). Samples of this algal bloom were taken on October 7th by a representative of the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change and analyzed for toxins. The analysis for microcystins (class of toxic compounds) in this sample found a concentration of less than 0.05 ppb (nanograms per millilitre). This concentration is below the Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards limit of 1.5 ppb indicating that the lake water was safe to use.

Photo micrograph of Anabaena blue green algae (magnified, inset)

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Documented Algal Blooms on White Lake - 2015