Department of Health, Department of Health Facilities, and Department of Human Services

​The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Bureau for Public Health (BPH) today lifted the Public Health Advisory pertaining to blue-green algal blooms that were found on the Ohio River and some of its tributaries.

The advisory issued September 4 was for both public water systems and to the public about the risk for possible harmful algal blooms on the river. 

“After thorough ongoing monitoring and testing of the water along the Ohio River by State and federal partners, it has been determined that the Public Health Advisory for the Ohio River regarding the potential for harmful algal blooms (HABs) may be lifted,” said Dr. Rahul Gupta, Commissioner and State Health Officer for the Bureau for Public Health. 

Gupta praised the collaborative efforts of ORSANCO, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Kentucky Division of Water, West Virginia DEP and local health departments, for remaining vigilant throughout this process to ensure residents were protected from harmful algal blooms (HABs). 

Information about HABs may be found online at www.dhhr.wv.gov/bph or by calling your local health department.  Water sampling test results may be found at www.dhhr.wv.gov/bph.