Toxic algae tests are back. Is the Columbia safe for 2,500 Ironman swimmers?
Sampling of Columbia River water in Richland where 2,500 Ironman 70.3 competitors will compete on Sunday did not turn up any toxins at levels of concern in testing done by the Benton Franklin Health District.
The district did extra sampling for evidence of toxic algae Monday along the Ironman swim route, with results posted online Tuesday afternoon.
Competitors will get in the water at Howard Amon Park just before 6:30 a.m. Sunday and swim downstream 1.2 miles to Columbia Point Park.
Just before Labor Day Weekend, laboratory tests of samples collected at Howard Amon Park showed the water there was contaminated with anatoxin-a, a neurological toxin, at levels not safe for people and animals, according to the health district.
The water was tested then because of blooms of algae, or cyanobacteria, and tests continue to show harmful levels of a neurological toxin or concerning mats of algae along the shoreline of the Columbia River at the park until this week.
Anatoxin-a can sicken people who swallow water or inhale water spray containing the toxins.
It is also a danger to animals, with six dogs known to have died since 2021 after wading in contaminated water along the shore of the Columbia River in the Tri-Cities area when toxic algae was present.
The health district’s current testing found toxic algae only at one place, the Columbia Park Family Fishing Pond, where swimming is not allowed.
There both anatoxin-a and microcystins, a liver toxin, were found at levels not safe for people or dogs.
The pond is used as a raw water source for Kennewick drinking water, but the treated drinking water does not contain toxins, according to the health district.
