Thursday, the Thurston County Board of Health declared the Summit Lake toxic algae bloom a community emergency, and scheduled a community meeting about it 2-4 p.m. Saturday at the Summit Lake Community Club House.

Meanwhile, residents can bring their own containers to collect water 4-7 p.m. every day at a water truck that will be at McLane Black Lake Fire Department Station 93 at 2815 Summit Lake Shore Road NW, according to a news release from Thurston County.

Preliminary tests from lake water samples taken last week indicate that a blue-green algae is producing “extremely high levels” of the toxin Anatoxin-a, which is a neurotoxin, officials said. Eleven follow-up samples were taken around the lake Tuesday, and those results are expected Friday.

Health officials are urging people to stop having any contact with the lake’s water. This includes using the water for bathing, drinking, cooking, washing dishes or laundry. People also should avoid swimming or fishing in the lake, or letting their pets come into contact with it, officials said.

“Filtration, boiling and other water treatment methods don’t remove or deactivate the algae toxin,” the county stated.

The county has set up a special hotline with updates on the algae bloom at 360-709-3080. The Summit Lake Community Club House is at 11545 Summit Lake Road.

— The Olympian