Toxic Algae Bloom Prevention

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In the event that emergency pumping performed to mitigate flood conditions has resulted in a non-toxic cyanobacterial algal bloom within the water source to which it has been allocated, what preliminary actions should be taken to prevent the algae bloom from emitting toxins? 

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11 Answers

  1. The routine recirculation it will help to prevent such problem, keep water in motion. Don't allow water to stay long into the dam without any plan.

    Thank you,

    Mangena P

  2. The Hydro BioScience Quattro-DB ultrasonic algae control units were specifically designed to operate outside the cavitation zone so there is no chance of cell lysing.  They also are the only device on the market with a 200 kHz +/- 5 kHz bandwidth in addition to the 41 kHz +/- 17 kHz bandwidth where most competitors systems operate.  The 200 kHz bandwidth was specifically chosen for effectiveness on blue-green algae and is part of our patent claim.  Our devices have 4 way ultrasonic output to create a near radial beam pattern and having the output capability of three to four of our competitors units.  One device can control blue-green algae in a 120 acre (50 ha) circle. 

    Hundreds of cyanobacteria gas vesicles per cell are internally broken causing the gas they contain to migrate to the outer cell wall where it slowly diffuses out in several days.  This action leaves the cells permanently heavier than water.  As they sink they cannot get sufficient UV light to create microcystin.  Without it they slowly die of insufficient Nitrogen intake and from the inability of Chlorophyll to produce monosacharrides from photosynthesis.

    Ultrasound does not kill most types of cyanobacteria directly.  The misconception that it does is promoted my many who do not understand the process.  In toxic ponds where ultrasound has been used we see the microcystin levels quickly approach the detectability limits of the test procedure.  By dropping the cyanobacteria to the bottom of the water column and out of sufficient light, the production of microcystin is rapidly halted and not released into the water.

    George Hutchinson, Pres. AlgaeControl.US LLC

    1 Comment

    1. Interesting treatment, what is the capacity? We found that advanced electrocoagulation which creates an electrochemical reaction (no chemicals) when a charge is introduced to the water totally decimates the cell structure killing the cyanobacteria and microcystin. The treatment is instant, and 99.99953% effective. The treatment effectively 'cracks' the molecular structure killing all microorganisms.

  3. If you can not afford to control the conditions of the predecessors of algae bloom, such as the reduction of nutrients in the stream that feeds the reservoir, try consulting the ultrasonic algae control (https://www.lgsonic.com/)

    1 Comment

  4.  

     

    Management of harmful algae

    Prevention

    options for reducing the incide options for reducing the incidence and extent of HABs before nce and extent of HABs before they begin they begin 1. Alteration of nutrient inputs alteration of nutrient inputs.

    2.  ballast water management

    Mitigation

    when a bloom is present, redu when a bloom is present, reduce the loss of resources and mi ce the loss of resources and minimize health nimize health risks –

    1.  Monitoring for cells and toxins monitoring for cells and toxins.
    2. Forecasting and public communication programs forecasting and public communication programs.
    3. transfer of fish pens to clean sites transfer of fish pens to clean sites

    Control

    during an outbreak, methods that target and attack the causa during an outbreak, methods that target and attack the causative organisms ve organisms

    1. - Biological
    2. - Chemical
    3. - Ultrasonics
    4. - Ozonation 
    5. - Chemical flocculation 
    6. - Clay flocculation 

     

     

  6. bioremediation is the proven way.  the most cost effective and convenient way is using a Biocleaner unit.  take a look at this.

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q40D48FwAyc

     

    2 Comments

    1. its modular and portable, so you can easily scale things up.  from small flows to large flows.    and if you have, lets say 60 units working on a project and one goes down, the treatment continues as you repair or replace the broken unit.  less down time.  it continues to work

    2. What is the flowrate. Appears to only work on small scale. 

      2 Comment replies

      1. Hi Eros, we are sorted with technology. We're using Advanced Electrocoagulation that has a flow rate of 400 litre per minute/per chamber so we are able to manage enterprise size water treatment. The technology facilitates the sanitation of the water, killing all cysts, fungus, bacteria and viruses - as well as TSS removal. Contact me if you require info/collab.

      2. hi Laura, we have bigger units.  and you have the option to use these modularly.    this video is on a golf pond that is full of cyano bacteria.  there is stp discharge to this pond of 200m3 a day.  that contributes to the issues.  we have larger flows

  7. For those that are concerned about algae toxicity, this is a great information source - http://www.ecy.wa.gov/Programs/wq/plants/algae/publichealth/GeneralCyanobacteria.html.  Yes, at times it can be harmful to humans, pets and wildlife and microcystin is the toxin produced by cyanobacteria that's causes the problem. It is well to note that when cyanobacteria is in the process of dying, it will release microcystin (toxin) and the treatment should look to ensure it eradicates all forms of the bloom, as live microcystin will continuation thereof. Our organisation (www.ages1.com) recently undertook assays at a laboratory in South Africa running a water source, from the Hartbeespoort Dam, a massive body of water with heavy metals, effluent and other pollutants - an ideal environment for cyanobacteria to grow. We used our advanced electrocoagulation - variable electro precipitation system in which an electrical charge is introduced into the water (no chemicals, filters), and the ionised water totally decimated the tough cell membrane. We used a hemocytometer to determine the presence of live cells, and the reading was total neutralisation. We are now taking this technology into fruit packhouses as the lab results also showed the total neutralisation of various forms of penicillium, a fungi prevalent in packhouses. Watch this space!

    2 Comments

    1. As you see from my comment below our advanced electrocoagulation is able to manage enterprise water treatments, with 400LPM/per chamber for 99.999% sanitations (cysts, bacteria, fungi, etc.) and TSS removal. Thank you for offer.

    2. hi Laura, we can help.  there have been two companies who have approached us before but have no follow through.    we have units that can do lake size projects.  An ADM, can clean large lakes up to 60 meters deep with less energy requirement than a car.  less than 120 hp.    for deeper lakes we can engineer that too.  very cheap.  is your company open to collaboration?

       

  9. Hi Jake, your question is slightly confusing. Firstly on what basis do you know the algae are non-toxic, and secondly, in the latter part of your question, you ask what actions are needed to "prevent the algal bloom from emitting toxins". So, is it toxic, or not is my/your first query and, as has already been mentioned, it’s not just the toxicity that is the issue, but the DO with potential ecological implications.

    Are you worried about the toxins re human interaction, or in relation to benthic/pelagic community?

    Finally, I am not quite sure what you are asking re where this has occurred, ie is the algal bloom in the receiving waters (suggest sudden overload of nutrients) or in the water from which the emergency flooding was pumped? I suspect the former, which may implicate excess nutrients from a terrestrial source (?) thus it may be a relatively short lived phenomenon. Rather too many assumptions from me, but a bit more info would help.

  10. Hi Jake, I would like to know more about your condition and the scale of it. Its not only the toxins you should be concerned about but the cycle that leads to DO reduction and fish/water life death. I will offer you advice and a solution to prevent toxins or further blooms. Please email me the info dave@makroorganics.com

    1 Comment

    1. Hey Dave,

      I don't know what happened but my question was edited slightly from how I originally posted it and it now makes it sound like the community that I am living in is living with a potentially toxin ​algal bloom, which is not true. This is how I originally posted the questions:

      In the event that emergency pumping performed to mitigate flood conditions has resulted in a non-toxic cyanobacterial algal bloom within the water source to which it has been allocated, what preliminary actions should be taken to prevent the algae bloom from emitting toxins?

       

      Commented on by

  11. Good morning Jake, I think we need more information about the water source you have been mentioned. Also What type of algae you have? is the picture showed red color of algae.

    I think is to get rid from this water whatever the algae toxic are not??

    2 Comments

    2. Hey Muna,

      I appreciate the quick response but as I told Dave above, I don't ​know what ​happened but my ​question was ​edited slightly ​from how I ​originally ​posted it and ​it now makes it ​sound like the ​community that ​I am living in ​is living with ​a potentially ​toxin ​​algal bloom, ​which is not ​true. This is ​how I ​originally ​posted the ​questions: ​

      In the event ​that emergency ​pumping ​performed to ​mitigate flood ​conditions has ​resulted in a ​non-toxic ​cyanobacterial ​algal bloom ​within the ​water source to ​which it has ​been allocated, ​what preliminary ​actions should ​be taken to ​prevent the ​algae bloom ​from emitting ​toxins?