Algal Bloom Alert
- May 5
- 1 min read
05/05/2025
SA Health has issued a current health warning for the Goolwa Channel. SA Health advises people to avoid swimming, diving or other activities that might involve accidental ingestion of water from the Goolwa Channel after testing identified elevated levels of potentially harmful blue green algae.
People living in the are or visiting Lake Alexandrina and the Goolwa Channel can still enjoy boating and fishing but are strongly advised to take extra care not to ingest the water in the channel. The affected area stretches from Point Sturt to the Goolwa Barrage where water samples showed elevated levels of the algae.
Unlike other forms of blue green algae, the species detected generally does not cause scums, so is not easily visible to the naked eye. It is the same from of algae that closed Lake Alexandrina to swimming and diving from March to August in 2024.
Direct contact with the water could cause irritation to the skin, eyes, ears, nose and mouth. Swallowing water containing the algae can cause gastrointestinal symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps.
