Algae formation in water treatment process

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I operate a ​water treatment ​plant for ​drinking water. ​
We use ​Birm® as a ​medium for the ​reduction of ​dissolved iron ​and manganese ​compounds from ​well water, ​followed by a ​sand and ​finally a ​carbon filter. ​

Our problem it ​that we ​have lots of ​algae in the ​product tank. ​

How do I stop ​the algae from ​forming? ​
Which ​substances and ​treatment ​methods do you ​use and what ​are your ​experiences? ​

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56 Answers

  1. Fine and ultrafine bubble generation from my experience in algal management in Asia and Australia. Algae count can be reduced from 1.5 million to

  3. We have a product to grow Diatom Algae. Diatoms are beneficial algae, the algae that is growing in your tanks at present is perhaps Cyanobacteria / Blue Green Algae, this is harmful. 

    Growing Diatoms will be useful for you, the nutrients in the water will be consumed and the oxygen produced by the Diatoms will keep the water clean. 

    Growing one type of algae to solve problems caused by another type of algae may sound odd, but the fact is that Diatoms are good algae and Cyano are bad algae.  

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  4. We have a machine that creates Ultra Fine Bubble technology we infuse Billions of microscopic bubbles into the water killing algae naturally without chemicals. www.gaiawater.com 

  5. We manufacture Floating Treatment Wetlands (FTW). They can be moved & secured. If you remove Sunlight (light source/energy source), it will (in most cases) be eliminated. FTW roots are in the water column with microbial activity going crazy (party time!). Predominantly reduces (or eliminates) Nitrogen TN & Phosphorus TP (+ more).

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  6. Keep a record of your Nitrogen content in your water.  We have been able to reduce, in fact eliminate Nitrogen with a series of all natural Microbes which also lower BOD, Phosphorus, any odors and reduces any TSS and Sludge. 

  7. 1. Algae grow because of photosynthesis.  Use completely opaque storage tank

    2. Chlorine stops algae

    Answered on by

  9. We have a system that generates Nano bubble technology for oxygenation purposes. The high O2 will bind the iron particles allowing your filters to trap the iron. The high O2 will kill bacteria in the well water allowing for a clean fresh taste free from pathogens . www.gaiawater.com . The high O2 levels suffocate the algae and kills it naturally. We have done many ponds and lakes with great success. 

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  10. We have a system that generates Nano bubble technology for oxygenation purposes. The high O2 will bind the iron particles allowing your filters to trap the iron. The high O2 will kill bacteria in the well water allowing for a clean fresh taste free from pathogens . www.gaiawater.com 

  11. Algae is a plant. If you want to stop the initial formation you can try to control the content of N and P.  If you want to just gather the algae that is created you can try bottom aeration and surface collection. Either wise just lower the Ph of water up to 5 in one tank and increase it to normal levels at a second tank.

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    1. Algae est un végétal, elle est donc -biologique-. Toute réaction naturelle exécive du vivant correspond à un déséquilibre -biologique-

      il faut peut être revoir les paramètres -biologique- du milieu et rééquilibrer le système avant de faire toute autre action qui créerait encore plus de dysfonctionnement -biologique-

      Algae are the order of the living on Earth, it's - organic-. All reactions natural living execives shows an imbalance - biological-

      There may be review settings - biological environment in order to perform a rebalancing of the system before performing any other action that would create even more dysfunction - biological-

  13. Hint the electricity of the micro current.

  14. The conclusion is impossible with your knowledge.Think about purchasing a new crisis to resolve the cause.You are a manager.The description includes content that violates confidentiality obligation.So even if you answer, it is difficult to provide a description.

  15. The conclusion is impossible with your knowledge.Think about purchasing a new crisis to resolve the cause.You are a manager.The description includes content that violates confidentiality obligation.So even if you answer, it is difficult to provide a description.

  16. Rereading my post, the ultrasonic biofilm control project was in Port Orange, Florida, not Orange, Florida.

    Ultrasound causes vibrations in the water that to anaerobic bacteria are similar to the sensation of turbulent water.  They are genetically disposed to not colonize turbulent water zones, because they must emit a chemical to attract the aerobic bacteria that make up the thicker portion of the biofilm layer (80%) over the base layer of anaerobic bacteria.  This cannot be done in turbulent water as the chemical is rapidly swept away.

    Many times algae will use the biofilm matrix for either attachment or for nutrients.

    For algae, ultrasound will damage green algae and diatoms using critical structural resonance to cause the inner cell wall (plasmalemma) to physically tear away from a pump (contractile vacuole) thus preventing proper fluid flow in the cell that kills it.  This can kill attached algae in about 3-4 weeks.

    In a tank, the ultrasonic effect on blue-green algae is less effective due to these algae passing through the tank quickly.  It takes 3-4 days for blue-green algae to completely lose their buoyancy from the effect of ultrasound that crushes the internal gas vesicle walls (only a protein layer thick) and releases the gas into the cell where it slowly diffuses through the outer wall that is not make to hold it.  For blue-green algae, the control is best done in a holding reservoir that will allow these algae to sink and slowly die from lack of light at the reservoir bottom.

    George Hutchinson, President, AlgaeControl.US LLC

    george@algaecontrol.uswww.algaecontrol.us

  17. It is the minimum construction method for drinking.Heat treatment is necessary to suppress algae because microorganisms can not be suppressed.If it is an elementary school investment, solar heat, if it is expensive investment gas facilities are necessary.

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  18. If you are getting algal growth in finished water, it is either because you are not removing all of cells in the treatment process, or it is being reseeded after treatment, somehow (e.g. open tank?). If they are not all being removed by treatment you should improve filtration. Standard treatment for a bloom problem is conventional coagulation, sedimentation, filtration treatment plus permanganate and powdered activated carbon to remove the algal toxins, if they are present in excess.  If you have significant and regular algal growth in the source water, you should filter in teh treatment plant to remove cells before adding a disinfectant, because that will lyse the algal cells and release toxins into the water, if they are being formed. Also, if you are having blooms you should check to see if toxins are being produced. Also, you should try to restrict nitrogen and phosphorous entry to the source water to reduce the growth. There are ELISA methods and LC/MS methods of analysis for toxins.  They are not always present. Also, if you have algal growth it is usually noticed by taste from isoborneol and geosmin. The WHO long term (years to lifetime)  Guideline for Drinking Water Quality is 1 ppb. The Australian short term (couple of weeks) guideline is 13 ppb, and it is based upon the same study that WHO used for long term and using a modified calculation for short term exposure. The equivalent WHO value would probably be 10 ppb.  WHO is working on a short term guideline.

  20. Algae will not grow without nutrients, covering your tank will hide your problem but you still have elements should not be existing in the product. I advise to find out a system for nutrients removal followed by proper disinfection.  

  21. most of the responses to add chemicals or UV are missing the point. I do not think that you are looking for more expenses and complications. A passive low cost system would be best.  So, cover the tanks to prevent solar exposure. If you can't do that you can add floating plastic balls that cover the surface and block the sun. About 10 years ago Los Angeles had a problem in a chlorinated finished water reservoir because of solar catalysis for conversion of bromide to bromate. They covered the reservoir with floating black balls. Problem solved.

    '

  22. Size of your tank? and the species of the algae? First cover your tank to prevent sunlight and algae from air. How frequent does the algae occur in your tank (how often do you clean the tank to remove the algae?) 

    Answered on by

  23. You may try disinfection process before removal of Fe and Mn. Also aeration may help in removing N and P from water. I shortage of nutrient algae will not grow. Your Birm® must be sterilized before use.

  24. I share the same view with Joseph. Algae grow and multiply in the presence of sunlight. Keep your water tank close to prevent penetration of sunlight. Once sunlight do not reach the content of the tank, algae growth will be eliminate. However , you can try the use of GoodlifeUV technology to ensure supply of potable water for consumption . 

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    1. If you have an open tank or storage that you can't cover, you can use floating plastic balls that are commercially available for covering reservoirs. They block the sunlight.  All of the suggested treatment approaches in this chain  miss the point. The idea is to passively prevent algae growth. Also preventing growth is much less expensive than treatment and has fewer complications. Los Angeles did this many years ago when they has a solar catelyzed bromate formation problem in their chlorinated open finished water reservoir. It woks great!

  26. Our ultrasonic algae and biofilm control devices were placed in Orange, Florida's potable water distribution tanks to prevent biofilm growth that was lowering the free Chlorine residual. With ultrasound present the cleaning cycle went from every 3 to 4 months to over 3 years.  www.algaecontrol.us

  27. I would like to recommend you to add oxygene to the water. This can be reached at best with the Oxybull. For more information and further details please contact me at ronald@luiten-greenhouses.com

  29. Consider using ultrasonic algae control. Easy to install, cost effective with proven results for applications such as this.

     

  30. If you produce algae means that the waters contain nutrients that feed them, therefore, during the distribution of water must continue oxidation and this can be done by combining the production of pressurized water power water distribution, which continually recycles water dissolvendovi oxygen due to the pressure of the autoclave http://www.spawhe.eu/hydroelectric-energy-files/. If the waters also contain heavy metals such as manganese, iron, arsenic, you can be combined with the previous system An ion exchange system with chelating resins. Even this system is realized with the continuous recycling of the water that passes through the ion exchanger and in the regeneration of the resins that float in the holed spheres in the water to be purified and in the regenerating liquid. Although these systems are able to produce hydroelectric energy at low cost http://www.spawhe.eu/sustainable-desalination/. Therefore these systems will pay for themselves the cost of purifying treatments by means of the electricity produced. But these plants are not being. They are new patents of undersigned in search of public and private partners around the world-condominium autoclave plant with electric energy production.jpg

  31. I can recommend removal of Algae by using Nano Particles and a Magnetic gate Way, where Water is Passed and Nano particles are caught. This will be an on going process  Chemical Free. It can also be applied on lakes to remove Algae. This Nano particles are available in United States. If interested, as initial step  please provide Pictures  of your set up and Volume of Water which has to be treated, as well as complete information of your Water Company , location, if it is private or public Company in order to start our discussions with you.

    We also have a unique solution for the treatment of Municipal  gray water

    Minimum 10,000 Tons / Day.

     

    Thank you

     

  33. This is a very easy situation.

    I dont know why people are still promoting bleach, chlorine etc for drinking water disinfection. Your issue is Algae, here is my approach. 

    Immedeately after your carbon fiteration install GoodlifeUV system. GoodlifeUV will ensure that there are no live bacteria/algae passing out of the UV outlet. GoodlifeUV is very different from the conventional UV systems and the there is "NO coating of quartz sleeves" that happens in GoodlifeUV systems.

    As many have rightly suggested your storage tank water should be deprived of sunlight. Cover it up. In case there is long storage time in the  treated water tank then have another GoodlifeUV installed at your tank outlet for added safety.

    No need to add any chemicals like Chlorine, no need for monitoring chemical dosage, etc.

    GoodlifeUV is now available from the UAE.

     

     

     

    1 Comment

  35. Biofuel development from algae
    Reasons to focus on algae
    ● Algae oil production capacity is several tens to several hundreds of terrestrial oil and fat plants
    ● Small area required for production
    ● Does not compete with food
    ● No need for cultivated land for production (Utilizing leave sites)
    This is the biggest reason why people around the world are paying attention to algae

    Types of combustion produced by algae

    The fuel of algae is divided into three plus one.

    1. Seaweed mainly
    Because it makes various carbohydrates, we do not produce much oil.
    Therefore, take alcohol from carbohydrates.
    It is one flow of bio-alcohol.

    2. Most microalgae make
    The same ingredients as those of vegetable oil such as so-called vegetable oil rapeseed oil
    Oil · triglyceride → biodiesel (FAME) via bio (HiBD)
    This oil can not be used directly for oil fuel.
    When using it as a fuel, do the thing called methyl ester dan, the point is to use the glyceride removed.
    This is what we call biodiesel fuel.
    Although it comes with the name of diesel, it is completely different in nature from what is called diesel via, and it is one with a lot of oxygen intruded.
    Since there are various restrictions when using biodiesel containing a lot of oxygen, "Because it is a bit problematic as it is"
    Recently, the concentration of oxygen is converted by hydrogen conversion and brought to so-called hydrocarbon,
    There is a trend of using it as a bio diesel oil.

    3. A small group of algae
    It is typified by Botryococcus Orlando Chicken Limm,
    This oil is a petroleum type oil.
    That is, it becomes hydrocarbon.
    Hydrocarbon (bio b heavy oil) → Currently operated fuel
    This can be converted to light oil, jet fuel, gasoline even with refining technology possessed by a modern oil company.
    We will show each of the advantages and disadvantages as well.This has this kind of thing.

    Botryococcus Botryococcus
    ● Algae inhabiting freshwater
    ● Form a colony of 30 to 30 to 500 pm from green to red
    ● Fix carbon dioxide and produce hydrocarbons
    ● Hydrocarbon is a complete oil substitute resource
    ● Hydrocarbons accumulate in cells and inside colonies (20.75% of dry weight)
    Each cell is elliptical one
    The horizontal axis is 20 microns and the vertical is 10 microns,
    Each one is independent, but it can not become disjoint even after division,
    Since the surroundings are viscous, they stick together and make colonies.
    So, the hydrocarbons that were made are synthesized first in the cell, but that comes out.
    Outside hydrocarbons do not spread in the liquid, but are basically trunked inside this colony.Colonies - ranked among so-called cells.
    Therefore, if you crush this colony, this will come out of the corner, the colocoro.
    This is hydrocarbon oil.This is the time of crushing.
    It is the hydrocarbon that comes out when you crush.
    Therefore, since it is outside the cell and just fills the cell,
    Extracting hydrocarbon oil is an organism that has such a characteristic that it can be extracted easily without breaking the cell.

    Aurantiochiytrium
    In addition to Botryococcus there is another heterotrophic algae oranthium oxide which makes hydrocarbons.
    This will not produce photosynthesis.
    When you give organic matter, it will increase tremendously using its organic matter.
    And it has the property of producing hydrocarbons.
    Compared with Botryococcus, the efficiency of this organism to produce hydrocarbons,
    It is a creature that will make it at a rate 10 times higher than that.
    The shape of a living thing is just a spherical shape.
    When I look at the microscope with a special stain that dyes only oil in this spherical shape,
    Dyeing oil turns yellow. It is pale yellow.
    You can see that it is making oil very well.
    B heavy oil is an oil obtained by mixing c heavy oil and diesel oil in half, so it has intermediate characteristics.In terms of density, it is just density like light oil.
    Another important kinematic viscosity, sticky, then.Whether it is smooth.
    When I look at it, it looks very heavy from heavy oil,
    B It can be said that it has a feeling of smoothness quite close to heavy oil or light oil.
    I tried spraying Botrio oil and light oil.
    The timing was delayed for a while but the oil of Botryococcus definitely exploded.
    Timing shifted because light oil is heavier, explosion takes place in a short time like diesel if slight pressure is applied.
    It was introduced in the program of the New Year this year (2012), because the car would move as it actually exploded, but by mixing 70% with light oil, it was said that the Mazda CX - 5 was successfully runIt is a thing.

    Four models of commercialization of algae biomass
    1.Fuel use model Used as fuel for passenger cars, agricultural machinery, and ships
    2.Energy source model fuel for power generation, use as a heat source
    3.Health industry model Cosmetics, use as health food
    4.Chemical industry model Use as a chemical product such as plastics
    Taking full advantage of the potential of local resources and algae biomass,
    New industries that are environmentally friendly, contribute to energy and health


    Fuel model.

  36. It's healthy if fresh water fish can swim with lively vigor.

  37. 1. Try microfiltering and hyperthermia,
    We will normalize the subsequent minerals with alumite, etc.,
    Afterwards, adjustment of hardness is necessary.

    2. You can use either freshwater or seawater, modifier / bacteria compatible,
    It suppresses tea moss and green moss in the aquarium for about 1 month.Since natural ingredients are the main ingredient and various vitamins, minerals and polyphenols are blended, the vitality of the living body will be enhanced and it will be less susceptible to disease.It is not a chemical such as a herbicide, so you can use it for large fish such as Arowana.You can use either freshwater or seawater.

      【amount to use】
      10 liters of alga guard is specified for 10 liters of breeding water.

  38. We have a product to grow Diatom Algae.

    When Diatom Algae grow, the water will be clean and well oxygenated and bacteria and other algae growth will decline. 

    Growing one type of algae to solve problems caused by other types of algae may sound odd, but Diatoms are good algae and other algae such as Cyanobacteria / Blue Green Algae and Green Algae are bad algae. So when Diatoms grow water is clean.

  39. drinking water

    You can use either freshwater or sea water, Adjusting agent / Bacteria corresponding,
    It suppresses tea moss and green moss in the aquarium for about 1 month.Since natural ingredients are the main ingredient and various vitamins, minerals and polyphenols are blended, the vitality of the living body will be enhanced and it will be less susceptible to disease.It is not a chemical such as a herbicide, so you can use it for large fish such as Arowana.You can use either freshwater or seawater.

      【amount to use】
      10 liters of alga guard is specified for 10 liters of breeding water.

  40. Hi Ebrahim, Consider the alternative - cultivate the algae ("glass half full").... on purpose, to pull off the nutrient load i.e. N, P, harvest it and put back into your AD for more gas production or convert to energy, HTL being one of the most promising technologies where you only need to dewater to approx 20% solids.

  42. I think you have poor or no disinfection of the treated water and/or the inside of treated water storage tank receives sunlight that help algae growth at poor residual of disinfectant. 

    Use MACJAMES® SaferEx - Multi-action Water Purifier for this typical water treatment challenge. Read the Product Data Sheet and Information (PDS&I) from this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5vq4wO9sNRoRHkzcUpRaDJtb0U/view?usp=sharing

    SaferEx an innovation and invented chemistry by us at MACJAMES Company, that efficiently disinfects, sediments metals that cause hardness (Calcium and Magnesium) and staining (Iron and Manganese), Particles, and salts, removes colour, odour and taste in "a single application and unit process" at cost and time efficiency. You can contact us: info@macjamesglobal.com for inquiries. 

    All the best!

  43. I think you need a multi barrier approach for this. First you need to reduce nutrient levels in your water and especially phosphorous. A proper coagulant dose ahead of your sand filter can lower phosphorous concentration. Another way is to biologically activate your media filters to consume the nutrients which might help with the problem. Finally you need to dose chlorine ahead of your product tank and prevent light from entering it to limit algae growth. Also make sure to properly clean and disinfect the tank before reusing it as adding chlorine to the tank with too much algae into it can release intercellular algal compounds which can be harmful.

  44. Dear Ebrahim Mohamed Salama ,

    You did receive nice suggestions here considering chemicals, storage conditions, nutrients concentration and new equipments. I just want to add two more options, assuming that you already have algae contamination in raw water:

    1- Evaluate a DAF as a pre treatment (or maybe as a clarifier, as well)

    2- I am doing some research about ultrasonic aplication in raw water, also to reduce the upstream contamination. 

    Best regards.

  45. I wasn't familiar with Birm so I did a search. Go to https://www.cleanwaterstore.com/resource/frequently-asked-questions/about-birm-iron-filters/.

    Based on the information at this site, it appears Birm is not the best selection for removing the manganese. However, your issue is algae. Have you measured the phosphorous concentration? Is your product tank and/or filters exposed to sunlight? After running the water through the Birm, what is the dissolved oxygen concentration? If it is near 0 and the detention in the product tank is long w/ exposure to sunlight and there is significant phosphorous, algae will be produced. If the filters/product tank are not covered, can you cover them? If the dissolved oxygen is near 0, I would suggest aerating the water to at least 1 ppm.

    As some of the others have said, ozonation and chlorination would work. However, if the tanks are exposed to sunlight, I wouldn't coat the walls a dark color. Having personal experience with dark colored hypalon liners in wastewater lagoons, the liners heated the water in March in cold Colorado and algae formed. Coating the walls a dark color w/ exposure to sunlight would only aggravate the algae problem.

  47. For this purpose Ozonation is the best method to reduce the algae. It has good results at low price. Chlorine is also a good option but it is difficult in handling and dosing. 

    1 Comment

  49. Ebrahim,

    There are some good suggestions here already.

    Chlorine will certainly slow down or kill off algae with the right dosage.

    Other suggestions 

    If you can stop sunlight entering the product tank you will stop the growth of all algae.  Shading will slow them down.

    You don't say if the problem is due to attached or planktonic (floating) species or but I assume you will have low water residence time in the product tank so probably attached algae (filaments) as the planktonic species will be washed out. So a good scrub of the walls and floor along withthe chlorine if you have attached forms.

    Cheers

    Peter Hawkins

  50. You should treat to reduce the amount of Nitrogen in your system.  This will also lower the BOD.  This can be done by introducing a series of Aerobic or Anaerobic microbes. Depending on your situation, you could also experience a reduction in odor and reduction of Phosphorus as well. We work with 300 different species of microbes both aerobic and anaerobic and will put together a consortium of microbes that will reduce Nitrogen very rapidly.

  51. Chlorine granu

  52. Chlorine granu

  56. I would suggest addition of chlorine, enough to leave a residual concentration in the product water, inhibiting algal growth. If chlorine is not feasible, maybe UV light could be used to inactivate the algal cells which are getting through the process.