SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah, July 21, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — The Salt Lake County Health Department is warning the public that an algae-related toxin is present in the Jordan River.
Everyone is advised to stay out of the water and to keep dogs from entering or drinking the water.
According to a health department Facebook post, test results were received late Friday afternoon, showing a low level (0.1 microgram per liter) of anatoxin-a in the river. Any detection of this toxin is cause to not enter the water itself and to keep dogs out as well, according to Environmental Protection Agency “action level” guidelines.
The samples that showed evidence of the toxin were from the Jordan Narrows, where the Jordan River enters Salt Lake County, but the health department advises caution for the entire river, as algae and toxins can spread quickly.
Toxins present at this level have not been shown to present a health threat to people on the surface of the river, such as while kayaking or boating, the health department release states. It concludes:
“We will be posting warning signs at Wheeler Farm in Murray and Blackridge Reservoir in Herriman due to their popularity as recreational points, but no potentially affected water bodies in Salt Lake County are closed to access at this time.”
Gephardt Daily will provide updated information on the status of the waterways as it becomes available.
