According to reports, the Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission is set to tackle the severe algae bloom that has been predicted to occur in Lake Erie. PUC general manager Tom Kissner said in a statement in June that the utility started sampling for microcystin, which is a toxin found in invasive blue-green algae found in Lake Erie.

According to him, they do sampling with the raw water and also treated water that leaves the plant. Kissner said, “That's really what the concern is . . . you don't want any microcystin in the water, you want it at low, low levels”.

It has been predicted by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) that a bloom measuring 8.7 on its severity index could occur in Lake Erie this summer, and it could be potentially high as 9.5. The severity index has been created on the basis of a bloom that occurred in 2011.

According to Kissner, the PUC is using a live satellite imagery system that is regularly checked by staff to observe if there are blooms in the lake. He added that they concentrate on the western basin of Lake Erie.

He said the chief operators often perform visual checks. Kissner was also asked regarding signs of algal bloom up till now. He then replied that at present there are no such signs. Kissner said they need to ensure that the blue-green algae cell is not harmed in the process of treatment they are using.