Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria) in Inland Waters: Assessment and Control of Risks to Public Health
4 Local action plans
4.1 Arrangements for management of algal blooms should be documented in a "local blue-green algae monitoring and action plan" that includes provision for (i) assessing the nature and intensity of algal blooms, (ii) assessments of the risks to human and animal health, (iii) actions that might arise from these assessments and (iv) providing information to the public.
4.2 Provisions in each of these areas ((i) to (iv) of Paragraph 4.1) should be broadly in line with the respective guidance in Sections 5 to 8 of this document.
4.3 A "local action plan" (LAP) should be drawn up for each NHS Board area or, by arrangement, to cover more than one NHS Board area. NHS Boards should therefore take the lead in co-ordinating the provision of such a plan. LAPs should take account of existing multi-agency plans for managing waterborne hazards associated with the public water supply.
4.4 The LAP should be compiled and agreed by the principal stakeholders. These will normally include the Local Authority Environmental Health, Scottish Water, the local NHS Board and SEPA.
4.5 Particular consideration should be given to provisions for susceptible groups such as patients undergoing haemodialysis (Paragraph 7.3).
4.6 The LAP should state clearly the period of time for which it applies and should include provision for updating and re-issue.
4.7 The format and content for a sample LAP is provided here as Annex D.