Results may come in Friday morning for a Lake near Olympia that is currently off-limits due to health concerns.
A recent test showed that water at Summit Lake is nowhere near safe. There’s a toxic algae bloom there that’s producing a neurotoxin about 350 times more concentrated than the amount considered a health concern.
The Thurston County Board of Health said the toxic algae bloom in the lake is a community emergency.
Signs posted there tell people to stay out and away from the lake until the test results are known later Friday.
High levels of the neurotoxin are considered to be dangerous to people and pets. In high concentrations, it can kill a person.
For now, officials are telling people to not bathe, drink, or allow their pets near the water. It should also not be used for washing dishes or doing laundry.
Boiling or filtering the water doesn't kill the neurotoxin.
Until the test results are in Friday, people can collect water in their own containers from a water truck that will be at the McLane Black Lake Fire Department Station 93, at 2815 Summit Lake Shore Road Northwest, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily, according to a Thurston County news release.
A community meeting is being held on Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Summit Lake Community Club House.
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