Use an Integrated Approach to Monitor Algal Blooms

Key TakeawaysFlow imaging microscopy (FIM) combines a flow cytometer's fluidic architecture with a microscope's spatial resolution to allow morphometric analysis of objects in suspensions such as water.FIM's real‐time analysis and identification of potential cyanotoxin producers help utilities understand population dynamics to maintain healthier source waters and reduce response times when a bloom is indicated.Case studies show FIM's advantages and limitations in harmful algal bloom monitoring programs for reservoir management and water treatment.

Section: City Of Wichita Falls Texasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Flow Imaging Microscopy for Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring

Barrowman,

Adams,

Southard

et al. 2024

“…After experiencing decades of T&O events due to cyanobacterial blooms, an integrated monitoring program was established in 2016 (Adams et al 2018). The program has grown and expanded over the past five years, with a focus on increasing a proactive, multifaceted approach to monitoring and mitigation of blooms (Adams et al 2021a).…”

Section: Bloom Monitoring and Detectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterizing and Mitigating Cyanobacterial Blooms in Drinking Water Reservoirs

Adams¹,

Smith²,

Reeder³

et al. 2022

Self Cite

The sooner a harmful algal bloom is detected and identified, the easier and less expensive it will be to eliminate it.Many tools are available to refine monitoring and mitigation methods; research and technological advances continue to help support water utilities' efforts.A laboratory in Wichita Falls, Texas, has developed a proactive, multifaceted approach to address the complexities of monitoring and mitigating blooms.

“…Hundreds of customer complaints were received in a two-week period in August 2016. To mitigate this problem, the City of Wichita Falls Cypress Environmental Laboratory designed and implemented a comprehensive monitoring program using sondes, traditional threshold odor number (TON) and modified flavor profile analysis (FPA), a single quadrupole GC-MS/ECD system, flowimaging microscopy, and qPCR (Adams et al 2018). Existing water system oxidation and adsorption processes were evaluated and optimized.…”

Section: Early Warning and Preventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Successfully Detecting and Mitigating Algal Blooms and Taste and Odor Compounds

Adams¹,

Southard²,

Reeder³

et al. 2021

Self Cite

After receiving hundreds of complaints, the City of Wichita Falls, Texas, developed a plan for monitoring harmful algal blooms to detect and mitigate taste and odor (T&O) compounds and cyanotoxins.The plan uses sensory analysis, genuslevel or functional-group identification, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/ electron capture detector, data sondes, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction to monitor blooms for T&O issues and cyanotoxins before they become problems.When blooms are detected, mitigation efforts include source-switching, pretreatment, oxidation, and adsorption, which have eliminated customer complaints following more than 60 years of unmitigated T&O cycles.