WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, alarmed by the reappearance of toxic algae in Skaneateles Lake, urged House members today to quickly pass a bill that would provide $110 million in emergency funding to fight a growing problem in Upstate New York.

The Senate passed a bipartisan bill Sept. 26 that would authorize $22 million a year for five years, paying for research and response efforts to prevent blooms of toxic blue-green algae on lakes, ponds and sources of drinking water across the nation.

The bill, now before the House, would require a task force to submit a scientific assessment to Congress at least every five years on harmful algal blooms in U.S. waters.

The toxic algae showed up in more than 60 bodies of water in New York state this year, including Owasco Lake and Skaneateles Lake in Central New York.

Small amounts of toxic byproducts from the algae reappeared in tests Sunday night at the city of Syracuse's water supply gatehouse on Skaneateles Lake, after almost two weeks of clean test results following a massive algae bloom.

Syracuse receives most of its drinking water from Skaneateles Lake. City officials and the county and state health departments say the water remains safe for human consumption.

Contact Mark Weiner anytime: Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751