TOPEKA, Kan. – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment, in conjunction with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT), has issued public health advisories for Kansas lakes.

The lakes under warnings in our area include Camp Hawk Lake in Harvey County, Lake Afton in Sedgwick County and Marion County Lake in Marion County.

When a warning is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:

Lake water is not safe to drink for pets or livestock and should never be consumed by humans.

Water contact should be avoided.

Fish may be eaten if they’re rinsed with clean water and only the fillet portion is consumed, while all other parts are discarded. Do not allow your pets to eat dried algae.

If lake water contacts skin, wash with clean water as soon as possible.

Avoid areas of visible algae accumulation.

KDHE samples publicly-accessible bodies of water for blue-green algae when the agency receives reports of potential algae blooms in Kansas lakes. Based on sampling results, KDHE reports on potentially harmful conditions.

For information on blue-green algae and reporting potential harmful algal blooms, please visit www.kdheks.gov/algae-illness/index.htm.