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High Frequency Monitoring for Harmful Algal Blooms
Citation:
Allen, Joel, M. Elovitz, C. Nietch, AND Jim Lazorchak. High Frequency Monitoring for Harmful Algal Blooms. Presented at International Society of Exposure Science 24th National Meeting, Cincinnati, OH, October 12 - 16, 2014.
Impact/Purpose:
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are increasingly becoming a significant ecologic, economic, and social driver in the use of water resources. Cyanobacteria and their toxins play an important role in management decisions for drinking water utilities and public health officials. Online monitors can provide high frequency data to assess water quality status and assist those decision makers in reducing risk and costs associated with HABs.
Description:
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are increasingly becoming a significant ecologic, economic, and social driver in the use of water resources. Cyanobacteria and their toxins play an important role in management decisions for drinking water utilities and public health officials. Online monitors can provide high frequency data to assess water quality status and assist those decision makers in reducing risk and costs associated with HABs. Of particular interest are sensors capable of assessing algal community dynamics, specifically those that can differentiate between the major Divisions which can provide a real-time indication of overall population trends. Online Toxicity Monitors (OTMs) may also be able to provide an indication of their presence in toxic concentrations. An effort is underway to deploy a suite of water quality monitors at the drinking water intake structure located on Lake Harsha, a multi-use reservoir located in Clermont County, OH during the 2014 season. Historically, harmful algal blooms (HABs) have been observed in Lake Harsha and, along with contaminants associated with mixed agriculture and suburban land uses, represent a significant challenge to the cost-effective production of safe drinking water. The goal of this monitoring effort is to provide time-relevant feedback to the drinking water producer and watershed water quality managers regarding potential HABs and episodic contamination events. The selected suite includes an Algae Online Analyzer, a Daphnia magna behavior OTM, an optical particle analysis system, a multiparameter sonde, a UV-vis absorbance spectrophotometer, and total organic carbon analyzer. Details of this approach and experience gained will be presented.
