Six of one. Half-dozen of another.

The green algae on Fountain Lake poses quite a dilemma.

Treat it &8212; as the city is doing today &8212; and the lake stops looking so green. However, it only makes the problem worse for next year. Plus, the copper sulfate makes the lake unsafe for swimming for 24 hours. That makes people wonder how safe the water really is at all. It is not as though the chemical has a clock in it that shuts off harmful effects at 24 hours. Is there residue?

Don&8217;t treat it, and the lake is green. Everyone sees it, and it looks unsafe. Plus, it isn&8217;t good for business. People visit our lovely city, and the lake is shockingly green. That doesn&8217;t make a good impression.

The unscientific Quick Vote poll at AlbertLeaTribune.com says more people favor treating Fountain Lake.

People we know also comment that the lake has been treated for years, and swimmers are fine.

Our view: Treat the lake this year, but don&8217;t leave it at that. Let&8217;s remember the half-cent tax goes to the watershed district and the city. The two entities will need to find a long-term solution, such as aeration to help oxygen reach the lake bottom. Of course, deeper water helps beat back algae, too, so dredging will make an impact. Every homeowner should stop using phosphorus fertilizer on lawns and stop mowing clippings into the streets. Every septic system needs to avoid leaking. Every farmer needs riparian buffers along creeks and drainage ditches. Every hog producer should have buffer strips around the hog barns.

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Together, we can defeat this algae bloom &8212; because copper sulfate is not really an answer to the problem.