Lower Burrell signs contract to fix 'greener than grass' algae problem at lake

Lower Burrell is moving forward to remediate the algae situation in Burrell Lake Park.

City Council on Monday approved a contract of nearly $5,900 with Solitude Lake Management for water quality restoration at Burrell Lake this fall.

“We had to get started to take care of the lake,” Councilman Mike Stanoski said.

He said the lake’s water is “greener than grass.”

The Department of Environmental Protection this summer identified a “harmful” algal bloom at the park. Algal blooms are common when there is calm, slow-moving or stagnant water; high concentrations of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus; and warm temperatures.

“The weather didn’t do us any favors,” Stanoski said.

The DEP had recommended the city post signage notifying park-goers of the bloom, City Manager Greg Primm said.

Harmful algal blooms only pose a threat if people or animals make direct skin contact or ingest the algae. Even before the “harmful” designation, swimming had been prohibited at Burrell Lake.

Stanoski advised people and animals to avoid the water.

Primm said the contract allows Solitude to get to work on a “baseline treatment” of the water this month. That would carry over the lake through the winter. In the spring, the city will consider a contract with Solitude for monthly treatments.

Stanoski said he is confident Solitude will be able to fix Lower Burrell’s problem because other communities, including Peters Township in Washington County, have remediated their lakes with the company’s help.