MATTOON, Ill. (WCIA) — The Coles County Health Department shared more information Thursday night on a harmful algae bloom making water from the City of Mattoon’s water supply unsafe to consume.

After sending out the initial “unsafe water alert,” the department followed up with a post on Facebook to clear up some information.

The department said that the algae in Mattoon’s water is Microcystin, which was at a level of 0.35 µg/L (micrograms per liter) in Mattoon’s water. For reference, the dermal limit — what is safe for skin — is 1.6 µg/L for adults and 0.3 µg/L for children, the department added.

“We are still looking for answers – is it safe to wash clothes / hair / bedding. We have not answered those questions due to the conflicting information,” the department said. “Hopefully, tomorrow’s test will be better. We can’t use Google to find answers, we have to rely on reputable sources that can be documented.”

Their first priority was contacting food service facilities, getting an announcement on the radio, and sharing information through a Facebook post, the department added.

“This was a time sensitive issue, and the decision was made to notify the public while our epidemiologist researches what is safe and finding answers to your questions,” the department said.

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency also posted Thursday night that anyone in eastern Shelby County that uses the City of Mattoon’s water supply should also adhere to the public safety alert.

Several businesses have also announced closures and other updates for Friday due to the unsafe water, such as the Milk and Honey Coffeehouse and Hubbartt’s Downtown Diner.

WCIA will continue to provide updates on our website with the latest information.