A crisis continues in northern Ohio as hundreds of thousands of people are without potable water. A toxic algae bloom in Lake Erie has left Ohio's fourth largest city and the surrounding areas without water for its residents.

As a precaution, the state has told residents not to use any water from taps, since it all comes from the lake, reports Reuters. The algae bloom, which tends to happen during the summer, has produced unprecedented levels of algae, due to high levels of toxins like nitrogen and phosphorus.

NOAA's Center of Excellence for Great Lakes and Human Health explains that high levels of algae in the water could create multiple bacteria, which are poisonous to humans. Water samples from the lake have been sent out for testing, reports Reuters, but until they return, all residents in the affected area are asked to not use tap water for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth and feeding pets.

Governor John Kasich of Ohio has declared a state of emergency in his state, allowing for the use of the Ohio National Guard, according to CBS Detroit. This will allow the state to bring in water to Toledo and other towns affected. The CBS station reports that the water advisory warning has also been extended to some communities in Michigan: Bedford Township, Erie Township, La Salle Township and Luna Pier.

However, the warning against local water has led many residents to search for bottled water. Stores in the Toledo area have already run out of bottled water, according to CNN. Residents are driving as far as Detroit to find potable water.

Toledo Mayor Michael Collins has told residents that trucks carrying water will be arriving to the affected neighborhoods for water distribution, reports CNN. The Ohio National Guard and the Ohio Department of Transportation will be delivering the water while the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections has been using an adapted milk processing plant to produce potable water, CNN adds.

"I don't believe we'll ever be back to normal," the mayor said, according to the Toledo Blade. "But this is not going to be our new normal. We're going to fix this. Our city is not going to be abandoned."

The local newspaper reports that residents in search of water have taken to social media, using the tag #emptyglasscity.