Discovery of toxic algae in city water supply prompts mitigation efforts at Pikeview Reservoir

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The Pikeview Reservoir, one of the bodies of water used by Colorado Springs Utilities to provide drinking water to their customers, tested positive for toxic blue-green algae for the third year in a row.

Colorado Springs Utilities says it's a natural phenomenon, but one they're determined not to let hinder their services to customers. Now, the utility company is working with technology to mitigate the harmful effects of toxins.

"The algae that we're having problems with in Pikeview right now, they float up and down in the reservoir," said Rick Johnson, Laboratory Manager for Colorado Springs Utilities. "This disrupts those by sending out sonic waves into them. You can't see them or you can't hear them, but there's sonic waves going through the reservoir there."

The technology is called the LG Sonic, and it's a system Springs Utilities implemented just one month ago.

While the algae would eventually leave the reservoir naturally, this technology will expedite the process. That means the water supply from Pikeview Reservoir will be returned to normal in around a week, according to the utility company.

"I want to dissuade any fears that this is going to be causing people to have more water restrictions or anything," said Johnson. "This is such a small part of our water portfolio."

The company will supply customers with drinking water from other reservoirs. They say the largest warning to the community is to avoid coming into bodily contact with the water.

Contact with the water could lead to potential health issues that include, nausea, rash, vomiting, irritated eyes, breathing problems, or seizures.