If You See This Barge Dumping Chemicals in Maine Lakes, Don’t Panic

Some people may find it a little concerning to see what appears to be a giant floating science lab pumping chemicals into Maine water.

However we, and the professionals involved, assure you that it's totally safe.

In the near future, Maine residents, particularly those in Augusta and Windsor, may notice the barge out and about on Togus Pond. And, as you can imagine, we expect that there's going to be lots of questions about it.

First and foremost, DON'T PANIC! This rig is supposed to be there and, believe it or not, it's actually providing a vital service to the Togus watershed.

According to an article published by the Kennebec Journal, this barge, owned and operated by SOLitude Lake Management, has been hired to come out and pump aluminum sulfate into the pond.

The reason behind this is that Togus Pond is home to a pretty large seasonal algae bloom, according to the KJ. This algae typically turns the water a shade of green the later it gets into the season, the newspaper states.

Green water isn't overly pretty to look at for starters and, additionally, it's also not great for the local eco-system, fish, birds and drinking water.

The aluminum sulfate helps prevent those algae blooms from occurring and helps to keep the pond water clear and fresh all season long.

The Kennebec Journal explained in part,

The alum to be spread across Togus Pond binds with phosphorus in the lake already that is a food source for the unwanted algae. By binding with the phosphorous down at the bottom of the lake, it denies the algae that food source and, officials hope, greatly reduces the amount of algae that will grow for each of the next 15 to 20 summers.

Sarah Fagg, chairwoman for the Togus Pond Restoration Committee, said in part about the upcoming project to the KJ,

“It’s completely safe, and it’s used frequently to treat public drinking water. It will improve conditions. There’s no harm to fish or wildlife, it’s carefully monitored.”

So worry not if you see Walter White cruising around on a floating lab this summer. They're just trying to make Maine, and its waterways, a better place!