By Associated Press, originally posted on October 1, 2016

AUBURN, N.Y. (AP) – Toxin from blue-green algae has been found in treated drinking water from one of New York’s Finger Lakes.

But concentrations in Owasco Lake, which supplies 50,000 customers in Cayuga County, were below levels classified by the federal government as dangerous. No ill effects are expected in people who consumed the water.

State health department officials tell the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (https://goo.gl/T1OhEB ) it’s the first time the toxin has been detected in treated water in New York state.

Canandaigua Lake, which supplies 59,000 customers with water, had a major outbreak of blue-green algae last year, but the toxin did not get into drinking-water supplies.

The state recently set up a water quality rapid response team, and it will be asked to look into the source of the Owasco Lake contamination.