The water so toxic you can't drink it, swim in it or even use it to water stock - a poisonous blue-green algae outbreak is choking the life out of Australia's biggest river

  • Toxic algae in the Murray River now reaches 600km to South Australia
  • Nearby residents have been asked not to drink from or swim in the water
  • Farmers have been warned to keep their pets and cattle away 
  • The taps were turned off to homes in the area of Mallee, VIC, on March 4

By Brianne Tolj For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

A growing toxic blue-green algae outbreak has forced officials to cut off rural towns, businesses and farmers from drinking and swimming in the water.

Blistering summer temperatures have helped the algae spread rapidly along nearly 600km of the Murray River, stretching from Albury-Wodonga in northern Victoria to the South Australia border, according to The Weekly Times.

The thick, deep green algae is taking over the flowing river that provides water to numerous communities across the state – but officials can't treat it because the chemicals kill everything in the water, including animals and fish.

Blistering summer temperatures have helped the algae spread rapidly along nearly 600km of the Murray River, stretching from Albury-Wodonga in northern Victoria to the South Australia border (pictured)

Blistering summer temperatures have helped the algae spread rapidly along nearly 600km of the Murray River, stretching from Albury-Wodonga in northern Victoria to the South Australia border (pictured)

The toxic blue-green algae outbreak has forced officials to cut off rural towns, businesses and farmers from drinking and swimming in the water (pictured)

The toxic blue-green algae outbreak has forced officials to cut off rural towns, businesses and farmers from drinking and swimming in the water (pictured)

The thick, deep green algae is taking over the flowing river that provides water to numerous communities across the state (pictured)

The thick, deep green algae is taking over the flowing river that provides water to numerous communities across the state (pictured)

Part of the algae-ridden water flows through the property of Jeremy Morton, from Moulamein, according to ABC.

'I walked up to the bank and it's a really sickly, deep, green which is not a good look,' he said.

'I've never seen the river look like this.'

But officials can't treat it because the chemicals kill everything in the water, including animals and fish (pictured)

But officials can't treat it because the chemicals kill everything in the water, including animals and fish (pictured)

Area officials worry that the algae will scare away tourists, especially for the upcoming Easter holidays 

Area officials worry that the algae will scare away tourists, especially for the upcoming Easter holidays 

'I walked up to the bank and it's a really sickly, deep, green which is not a good look,' Jeremy Morton, from Moulamein, said (pictured) 

'I walked up to the bank and it's a really sickly, deep, green which is not a good look,' Jeremy Morton, from Moulamein, said (pictured) 

Taps were shut off to towns and farms in areas south of Mallee on March 4 when the algae worked its way to pipelines near Swan Hill, the Weekly reported.

Stage four water restrictions were placed on March 7 on numerous other towns along the river – including Chinkapook, Chillinghollah, Lalbert, Manangatang, Sea Lake, Ultima and Waitchie.

Residents or tourists visiting the Murray, especially for the upcoming Easter holidays, have been urged not to drink or swim in the river, even if the water has been boiled, according to Yahoo.

Cattle and pets are not able to drink the river water either but town supplies are or storages are still available.

Taps were shut off to towns and farms in areas south of Mallee on March 4 when the algae worked its way to pipelines near Swan Hill

Taps were shut off to towns and farms in areas south of Mallee on March 4 when the algae worked its way to pipelines near Swan Hill

Stage four water restrictions were placed on March 7 on numerous other towns along the river ¿ including Chinkapook, Chillinghollah, Lalbert, Manangatang, Sea Lake, Ultima and Waitchie

Stage four water restrictions were placed on March 7 on numerous other towns along the river – including Chinkapook, Chillinghollah, Lalbert, Manangatang, Sea Lake, Ultima and Waitchie

A Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water spokesman said town storages have been receiving top-ups to 'stockpile and store as much water on farm for stock and domestic needs as is possible.'

The only feasible solution now is to wait for heavy rainfall and colder temperatures to purge the algae, the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder said in a statement.

'It is worth noting that both the availability of water required, and the ability to manipulate flows (particularly in the Murray) in a manner that can deal with the problem, are very limited. The amount of environmental water that is available is very small compared to the scale and impact of the blue-green algae blooms spreading throughout the system.

It is not feasible to purposely flush the water though and there is no guarantee that the algae won't spread to another river system and not disappear altogether, the statement said. 

A Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water spokesman said town storages have been receiving top-ups to 'stockpile and store as much water on farm for stock and domestic needs as is possible'

A Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water spokesman said town storages have been receiving top-ups to 'stockpile and store as much water on farm for stock and domestic needs as is possible'

The only feasible solution now is to wait for heavy rainfall and colder temperatures to purge the algae, the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder said in a statement

The only feasible solution now is to wait for heavy rainfall and colder temperatures to purge the algae, the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder said in a statement

 

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