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Suffolk Public Works officials advise that conditions are right for harmful algae blooms to form in ponds and slow moving waterways.

A bloom is a buildup of blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, that creates a green, blue-green, white or brown coloring on the surface of slow-moving waterways, the city said in a news release.

“Contact with a toxin produced by the bloom can make people and pets very sick,” the release said. “When in doubt, keep out.”

For information, visit https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/waterborne-hazards-control/harmful-algal-blooms/cyanobacteria/ or contact Suffolk Public Works at 757-514-7627.