• Non-detect
• Acceptable Microcystin Levels
• Microcystin Context and Testing
• Social Media
• Cle NWS

2015 microcystin levels

Detected in raw Lake Erie water near Toledo's intake crib, which is located three miles offshore from Jerusalem Township in northwest Ohio. Data.

• Mon, Jul 27 = 0.5 ppb
• Tue, Jul 28 = 0.4 ppb
• Wed, Jul 29 = 1.0 ppb
• Thu, Jul 30 = 0.5 ppb
• Fri, Jul 31 = nd
• Sat, Aug 1 = 0.4 ppb
• Sun, Aug 2 = 0.4 ppb
• Mon, Aug 3 = 0.6 ppb
• Tue, Aug 4 = 0.6 ppb
• Wed, Aug 5 = 1.8 ppb
• Thu, Aug 6 = nd
• Fri, Aug 7 = 1.0 ppb
• Sat, Aug 8 = 2.5 ppb
• Sun, Aug 9 = 1.5 ppb
• Mon, Aug 10 = 0.9 ppb
• Tue, Aug 11 = 0.6 ppb
• Wed, Aug 12 = 4.9 ppb
• Thu, Aug 13 = 2.2 ppb
• Fri, Aug 14 = 1.0 ppb
• Sat, Aug 15 = 1.4 ppb
• Sun, Aug 16 = 0.5 ppb
• Mon, Aug 17 = 0.6 ppb
• Tue, Aug 18 = 0.7 ppb
• Wed, Aug 19 = 2.8 ppb

Non-detect

nd = non-detect

Scientists have said anything 0.3 ppb or less is considered nondetectable because 0.3 ppb is the smallest reading that can be reliably made with the use of modern technology.

Acceptable Microcystin Levels

Aug 1, 2015 Toledo Blade story

The U.S. EPA in May declared it acceptable for people of school-age and older to drink tap water with up to 1.6 parts per billion of microcystin in it. The limit for infants and children younger than 6 years old, pregnant women, nursing mothers, people with liver conditions, and those on dialysis is 0.3 part per billion, the EPA said.

Both numbers are based on 10-day averages and updated a 1998 World Health Organization advisory, which recommended tap water across the world contain no more than 1.0 ppb of the toxin.

Microcystin Context and Testing

Jul 30, 2015 Toledo Blade story

To put the situation into better context, consider this: Oregon produced safe tap water one day in 2013, when the raw lake water near its intake hit 100 ppb.

“We’ve regularly done over 50 ppb,” Mr. Wagner said, adding he “doesn’t start to get nervous” until the raw lake concentration is 10 to 15 ppb.

The Ohio EPA said it expects tests to be done at least once a week when the concentration in the raw water is 5.0 ppb or less. Above 5.0 ppb, the tests need to be done at least three times a week.

The tests cost hundreds of dollars. Just as importantly, they’re labor-intensive and take about five hours — distracting some chemists from day-to-day plant operations, Mr. Wagner said.

He said municipalities are “just throwing money out the window” when they test raw lake water that is 5.0 ppb or less, because that concentration can be easily managed by water treatment.

Social Media

• https://twitter.com/city_of_toledo
• https://www.facebook.com/cityoftoledo

Cle NWS

http://www.weather.gov/cle/LakeErieHAB

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