Low levels of toxic algae have been discovered in Salem’s drinking water, prompting officials to issue an advisory that parents should not give tap water to children under 6 years old.
People with compromised health and immune systems also are being told not to drink tap water.
Salem-Keizer Public Schools will offer bottled water for students who are pre-K through first grade, district officials said Tuesday afternoon.
Bottled water will not be provided to schools in Keizer because the city’s water comes from a different supply and is not be affected.
They will start by delivering to elementary schools, then middle and high schools for self-contained classrooms with medically fragile students, the teen-parent program, and so forth, she said.
Affected communities Detroit Gates Jefferson Lyons Mehama Mill City Salem Stayton Turner The toxins originated with algae blooms first detected last week in Detroit Lake.
Salem’s drinking water was tested May 23 and 25.
Downstream, in the North Santiam River, tests also revealed elevated levels of toxins.
It’s unclear exactly why algae blooms always seem to pop up this time of year at Detroit Lake, but Hillwig suspects it has something to do with Detroit Lake raising its water level to the summertime "full pool."
Drinking water containing cyanotoxins at levels exceeding the national drinking water Health Advisories can put people at risk of various adverse health effects including upset stomach, vomiting and diarrhea, as well as liver and kidney damage, according to the advisory.