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Occurrence, Monitoring and Treatment of Cyanobacterial Toxins in Drinking Water
Citation:
Sanan, T., N. Dugan, D. Lytle, AND H. Mash. Occurrence, Monitoring and Treatment of Cyanobacterial Toxins in Drinking Water. Compliance and Technical Assistance Branch Annual Training Meeting, Cumberland Falls, KY, August 18 - 20, 2015.
Impact/Purpose:
Training field staff for sampling and other applicable activities related to algal toxins and their sampling and analysis.
Description:
In the summer of 2014 a number of drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) on Lake Erie supplied water samples on a monthly basis for analysis. Chlorophyll-a measurements, LC/MS/MS and ELISA techniques specific to microcystins were employed to measure potential harmful algal bloom (HAB) activity, in conjunction measurements of water quality parameters and nutrients. In addition to raw influent waters, samples were collected at varying points through the treatment trains of cooperating DWTPs. Both dissolved and total toxin levels were analyzed, and results suggest that toxin release occurs following oxidant addition, prior to removal of intact cells. Once the microcystins were released, clarification was not efficient in their removal; however, no toxin breakthrough into the distribution system was observed. It is likely that contact with chlorine in the clearwells deactivated residual toxin.