Posted By Zoe Barnett Can anyone please give me any information on hazards associated with blue green algae in brackish water? It's a flooded chalk quarry used as a recreational facility. A web search only revealed a flourishing trade in the stuff as a health food. Are some people more susceptible to adverse effects if they swallow the algae? Of four people to fall in, only one has been taken ill, allegedly due to the presence of the algae, although I've not had this confirmed by a doctor and am relying on reports from the family of the poorly person. As I understand it, we lease the lake from a local aggregates firm. I think that the duty to ensure water quality rests with the firm as the "landlord"...can anyone please confirm this interpretation? As ever, I'll be very grateful for help.

Posted By John Donaldson Zoe Go to the Environment Agency site, www.environment-agency.gov.uk, and enter Blue Green into the search site. You will get all the info you need.

Posted By Michael Dunn Zoe, I have some briefing sheets on this which I did for my local authority with the help of Aquatic Biololical Services Limited (based in Chatham!). Send me an e-mail and I will attach them by return. Michael STO LB Hackney