SKANEATELES, N.Y. -- Clift Park and Skaneateles Country Club beaches have been closed for swimming due to presence of algal bloom at Skaneateles Lake.

Water samples recently collected from the lake show the presence of harmful algae blooms that could be toxic.

The report comes from the Skaneateles Lake Association, a group that has been heavily involved in the monitoring of the lake's waters.

The algae blooms have since dissipated, but a number of questions remain, as people wait for the DEC to release official results.

The blooms were spotted on the north side by the pier over the past few days, which caught the attention of city officials in Syracuse.

The city and several other local communities get their drinking water from the lake.

The DEC did not report the presence of toxins on the lake, so it was business as usual with people swimming, boating and kayaking on the water. The beaches have since been closed as a precaution.

The city of Syracuse as well as the Onondaga County Water Authority says despite the presence of algae the water is okay to drink. The city of Syracuse, towns of Dewitt and Lafayette and the Village of Skaneateles get their drinking water directly from the lake.

2% of the Onondaga County Water Authority's water also comes from the source.

OCWA says even with blooms at the surface, it isn't where your drinking water comes from being that the intake pipes are deep in the lake and a long distance from the shore.

People and pets should avoid contact with blooms, and should rinse off with clean water if contact occurs.