Cape Town - Cape Town health authorities have warned people to steer clear of Wildevoelvlei in the Noordhoek valley because of its high concentration of toxic algae.
"No contact must be made with this body of water," City Health said in a statement on Thursday.
It said Wildevoelvlei had a well-established algae population, dominated by species of blue-green algae named Cyanophyceae.
During the warm summer months, the algal population could increase dramatically, and this accounted for the current green pea-soup colour of the water.
"The public should avoid all contact with the water at the vlei and in the outlet channel leading to the sea," City Health said.
"Dog-walkers should ensure that their pets remain on their leashes so that they are not able to drink the water."
Shellfish such as mussels harvested from the coast below the vlei were likely to be unfit for human consumption as a result of the toxins.
Exposure to the algae could cause eye irritation, skin rashes, mouth ulcers, vomiting, diarrhoea, and cold or flu-like symptoms.
Drinking or swallowing large amounts of contaminated water could be "extremely dangerous".
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Stay-away-from-toxic-Noordhoek-vlei-city-20101223