Algal Bloom
What is Algal Bloom?
An algal bloom is the rapid increase of the algae population in aquatic ecosystems, both in fresh and marine waters, where it is known as either water bloom or marine bloom, respectively. They thrive where there is an abundance of two nutrients; phosphorus and nitrogen, usually caused by runoff of nutrients (animal waste, fertilizers, sewage) from the land.
Algal blooms are known to be mainly composed of bio-toxins and are characterized by a distinct discoloration of water due to a large number of pigmented algae cells. The colors range from green, red, brown, and yellow. The major types of algal blooms are cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and red tides (red algal blooms).
Algal bloom and water hyacinth are some of the most common forms of eutrophication, which depletes the supply of oxygen, leading to the death of animal life.
This article seeks to provide a better understanding of the causes, effects, and possible solutions for an algal bloom.
An algal bloom is the rapid increase of the algae population in aquatic ecosystems, both in fresh and marine waters, where it is known as either water bloom or marine bloom, respectively. They thrive where there is an abundance of two nutrients; phosphorus and nitrogen, usually caused by runoff of nutrients (animal waste, fertilizers, sewage) from the land.
Algal blooms are known to be mainly composed of bio-toxins and are characterized by a distinct discoloration of water due to a large number of pigmented algae cells. The colors range from green, red, brown, and yellow. The major types of algal blooms are cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and red tides (red algal blooms).
Algal bloom and water hyacinth are some of the most common forms of eutrophication, which depletes the supply of oxygen, leading to the death of animal life.
This article seeks to provide a better understanding of the causes, effects, and possible solutions for an algal bloom.
Causes of Algal Bloom in Aquatic Ecosystems
1. Runoff of Nutrients
An algal bloom is mostly caused by the presence of large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus present in water. These nutrients are washed away from lands and farms that are heavily riddled with nitrogenous and phosphatic fertilizers.
Rain acts as an agent by washing these leachable nutrients from the soil into water bodies such as rivers and streams, which eventually end up in large reservoirs such as lakes and oceans.
These nutrients are also deposited into waterways through drainage systems. Due to poor sewage treatment, untreated raw sewage finds its ways into water bodies, and because it is rich in nitrogen compounds such as nitrates and ammonia, it causes algal bloom.
Water pollution, particularly the discharge of poorly treated or untreated industrial waste into waterways, leads to the release of raw toxic waste into water systems. Since it contains nutrients and compounds such as nitrogen, lead, and phosphorus, the outcome is the dense growth of algae.
2. High Temperatures
The global world is facing the destruction of the ozone layer caused by global warming. This is one of the main reasons algal bloom is thriving at a fast rate. Conducive temperature is needed for certain bacteria to survive both in and out of water.
The exceedingly high temperatures experienced in recent years have led to rapid decomposition of the nutrients such as nitrates and ammonia, which are easier forms for bacteria to use up and grow in quantity.
3. Presence of Dead Organic Matter
Generally, there are many kinds of bacteria present in the atmosphere, as well as in water. They are all in search of suitable media for growth and nutrition. Therefore, like other bacteria, the algae bacterium is facilitated by the presence of dead organisms in the water. Together with the nutrients present in water, the dead organic matter ends up propagating the growth of algae in the water, leading to an algae bloom.
4. Slow-moving Water
Algal blooms need large masses of water, which are almost still to thrive. Most of the blue-green algae prefer stable water conditions with low flows, long retention times, light winds and minimal turbulence; other prefer mixing conditions and turbid environments. There are fewer disturbances in their propagation in such waters, and this explains their limited growth in rivers and streams with a fast flow rate.
5. Light
When blue-green algae populations are exposed to long periods of high light intensity (photo-inhibition), these are diminished but have optimal growth when intermittently exposed to high light intensities. These conditions prevail under the water surface, where the light environment is fluctuating.Blue-green algae have higher growth rates than any other group of algae even under low light conditions, or in turbid water. This ability to adapt to variable light conditions gives cyanobacteria a competitive advantage over other algal species.
6. Turbidity
The presence of suspended particles and organic matter (flocs) in the water column cause turbidity. High turbidity occurs when a lot of water is running through the system (high discharge after a rain event). Low turbidity occurs when there is only a small amount of suspended matter present in the water column.
The slow-moving or stagnant water can cause low turbidity that allows suspended particles to settle out of the water column. When turbidity is low, more light can penetrate through the water column, and optimal conditions for algal growth created. In return, growing algae create a turbid environment.
Effects of Algal Bloom on Aquatic Ecosystems
1. Endangerment to Human Health/life
Algal blooms produce toxins that reduce the suitability of water for human consumption. Their large presence on the water and their well propagating sequences leads to quick contamination of water, thus posing a health hazard to humans. Strong irritation, itching, and even skin diseases are experienced when such contaminated water comes into contact with the human skin.
2. Death of Aquatic Life
For any living organism to survive, they need oxygen for respiration. Fishes and other aquatic life depend on the oxygen dissolved in water. Similarly, for the algae bacterium to survive, it needs oxygen for survival.
However, in plant life, a high mode of propagation and dense growth in a very short period of time increases competition for oxygen, leading to an imbalance in the aquatic ecosystem and suffocation of aquatic animals like fish. More death of aquatic animals means more food for the algae leading to faster propagation and, in the long-run, deterioration of aquatic life.
3. Ocean Dead Zones
Nutrient pollution can create dead zones in water with little or no oxygen, where aquatic life cannot survive. Also known as hypoxia, these areas are caused by algal blooms consuming oxygen as they die and decompose. This can result in the massive deaths of aquatic life.
As a result, the area around the algal blooms will be a dead zone with a dead animal and plant life alike. The resulting foul smell may affect the rest of the aquatic life, sending them further away from the area.
More than 166 dead zones have been documented nationwide, affecting water bodies like the Chesapeake Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico dead zone is the largest in the United States, measuring 5,840 square miles. It occurs every summer because of nutrient pollution from the Mississippi River Basin, an area that drains 31 upstream states.
More than 166 dead zones have been documented nationwide, affecting water bodies like the Chesapeake Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico dead zone is the largest in the United States, measuring 5,840 square miles. It occurs every summer because of nutrient pollution from the Mississippi River Basin, an area that drains 31 upstream states.
4. Strain on Economies
The presence of algal bloom makes transport on waterways cumbersome, leading to more expensive means of transport such as air. Countries that have realized the growth of algal blooms too late have to seek alternative transport routes to engage in trade, resulting in economic losses.
Also, since the growth of algal blooms leads to the death of aquatic life, there can be widespread losses to fishermen who depend on fishing as an income-generating activity. Moreover, the concept and process of treatment of the algal bloom is a costly affair and often requires millions of taxpayers’ money.
5. Strain on Industries
Algal blooms badly affect fishing and shellfish industries killing fish and contaminating shellfish. Annual losses to these industries from nutrient pollution are estimated to be in the tens of millions of dollars.
Besides, some industries, for example, food processing companies, only require clean water from water bodies to drive their production. This means that the presence of algal blooms will cause additional water treatment costs to get clean water leading to increased overhead costs.
6. Losses in the Tourism Industry
With the dense growth of algal blooms on natural recreational water surfaces, the tourism industry suffers greatly as the resulting foul smell, and dead zones mean there are no fishes to catch, no available ways to navigate the water, and no swimming or boating activities.
7. High Water Utility Bill for Domestic Consumers
With algal blooms contamination or not, people still need water for consumption. The municipality will have to invest in water treatment processes that eliminate the toxins caused by algal blooms.
In some cases, extensive growth of algal blooms may lead to scarcity of fresh drinking water if the town or community depends on the contaminated source as the only one for distributing consumption water. All these factors increase the costs of treatment and the demand for water, which eventually dramatically raises the water utility bills for domestic consumers.
8. Algae Affect the Food Chain
Sometimes harmful algal blooms create toxins that are detrimental to fish and other animals. After being consumed by small fish and shellfish, these toxins move up the food chain and can impact larger animals like sea lions, turtles, dolphins, birds and manatees. Even if algal blooms are not toxic, they can negatively impact aquatic life by blocking out sunlight and clogging fish gills.
9. Ozone Pollution
Airborne nitrogen compounds like nitrogen oxides help in the formation of other air pollutants such as ground-level ozone, a component of smog that can restrict visibility.
Wind and weather can carry ozone many miles from urban to rural areas. Ozone pollution can damage trees and harm the appearance of vegetation and scenic areas.
10. Reduced Property Value
Clean water raises the value of a nearby home by up to 25 percent, whereas waterfront property values can decline because of the unpleasant sight and odor of algal blooms.
11. Acid Rain
The nutrient pollution in the air causes acid rain, which damages lakes, streams, estuaries, forests and grasslands across the country.
Some Interesting Solutions to Algal Bloom
1. Proper Sewage Treatment
In a bid to limit the presence of nitrogen and phosphorus in water, there is a need to treat sewage water using the recommended waste treatment procedure – the five-step process that ensures optimal treatment.
Disinfection and the tertiary treatment to remove components such as nitrogen and phosphorus through processes such as nitrification and the eventual sludge treatment is mandatory to prevent feeding main water sources such as rivers, lakes, oceans, and streams with excessive nutrients. Quality water treatment processes also ensure people are consuming safe water and, above all, protect aquatic life.
For Lake Clear property owners, the most effective approach would be to institute a Septic System Re-inspection Program (SSRP) to periodically confirm that your septic system is working as intended and to undertake repairs before they affect the lake.
Also, care and restoration of your shoreline and the 30-metre buffer zone between the high water mark and your septic system will serve to absorb much of the phosphorus that is running off to the lake from your septic system.
2. Reduction of Pollution and Water Wastage on a Personal Level
To achieve the global environmental conservation goals of minimal pollution, it has to start with individual initiatives by minimizing wastage, recycling, and reusing to save the environment.
When all people do this, at home, at work, or school, it can work towards reducing the overall nutrient load into water bodies and even ease the water treatment process. Ultimately, it can aid in minimizing the dense growth of algae in the water.
3. Optimal Fertilizer Application
Fertilizers have to be used by farmers to boost crop yields by providing them with deficient nutrients. However, it can be done optimally by utilizing options such as top dressing or spraying, depending on the nutrients to be administered. Farmers are advised to consult from agricultural experts about the mode and quantity of fertilizer to use.
Employing the most desirable practices and applying the right amounts of fertilizers can ensure both the optimal growth of the crops as well as balanced toxicity or nutrient concentration in the soil.
On the onset of rain, it would mean only small quantities of chemicals are washed into waterways, reducing the incidence of algal bloom.
Even for lawn and garden care, apply fertilizers only when necessary and at the recommended amount. Don’t apply fertilizer before windy or rainy days or in an area close to waterways. Also, store unused fertilizers and dispose of empty containers properly.
For Lake Clear Property owners, there is no excuse for using fertilizers on lake front properties. Just don’t do it!
4. Use of Hydrogen Peroxide
The compound has been used as an effective treatment against algal blooms. This is suitable for smaller water bodies such as large ponds or small lakes for the easy monitoring of the compound’s impact as well as the aquatic life.
5. Ultrasound Bloom Treatment
This technology focuses on ultrasonic sound waves in water bodies to look for algal blooms and to control their growth if discovered – reducing algae growth by up to 90%. All this is tried and tested, and thus, no harm comes upon aquatic life, as it is 100% environmentally friendly with the added advantage of low operational costs.
This treatment monitors large water bodies and can determine based on the prevailing conditions, whether the threat of algal bloom is present or not.
These waves are sent over the top layer of the water bodies to counter the buoyancy, making them sink and disable photosynthesis. The algae eventually die due to the absence of light.
6. Use of Non-toxic Cleaning supplies at Home
Choose non-toxic phosphate-free detergents, soaps, and household cleaners at home and while washing your car. Use the amount of detergent or soap sparingly; more is not better.
Select the proper load size for your washing machine. Only run your clothes or dishwasher when you have a full load. Use a commercial car wash that requires disposing of wastewater properly, and many of them filter and recycle their water.
For lake Clear property owners, try to minimize water use overall. Virtually every litre of water you put into your septic system will exit the system and is headed directly to the lake, loaded with phosphorus! The buffer zone, which, hopefully, has been left natural, can absorb much of the nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) before it can enter the lake.
Much of this article was taken from an eco-conscious blogger, called “ Conserve Energy Future”. Here is his URL:
https://www.conserve-energy-future.com
1. Runoff of Nutrients
An algal bloom is mostly caused by the presence of large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus present in water. These nutrients are washed away from lands and farms that are heavily riddled with nitrogenous and phosphatic fertilizers.
Rain acts as an agent by washing these leachable nutrients from the soil into water bodies such as rivers and streams, which eventually end up in large reservoirs such as lakes and oceans.
These nutrients are also deposited into waterways through drainage systems. Due to poor sewage treatment, untreated raw sewage finds its ways into water bodies, and because it is rich in nitrogen compounds such as nitrates and ammonia, it causes algal bloom.
Water pollution, particularly the discharge of poorly treated or untreated industrial waste into waterways, leads to the release of raw toxic waste into water systems. Since it contains nutrients and compounds such as nitrogen, lead, and phosphorus, the outcome is the dense growth of algae.
2. High Temperatures
The global world is facing the destruction of the ozone layer caused by global warming. This is one of the main reasons algal bloom is thriving at a fast rate. Conducive temperature is needed for certain bacteria to survive both in and out of water.
The exceedingly high temperatures experienced in recent years have led to rapid decomposition of the nutrients such as nitrates and ammonia, which are easier forms for bacteria to use up and grow in quantity.
3. Presence of Dead Organic Matter
Generally, there are many kinds of bacteria present in the atmosphere, as well as in water. They are all in search of suitable media for growth and nutrition. Therefore, like other bacteria, the algae bacterium is facilitated by the presence of dead organisms in the water. Together with the nutrients present in water, the dead organic matter ends up propagating the growth of algae in the water, leading to an algae bloom.
4. Slow-moving Water
Algal blooms need large masses of water, which are almost still to thrive. Most of the blue-green algae prefer stable water conditions with low flows, long retention times, light winds and minimal turbulence; other prefer mixing conditions and turbid environments. There are fewer disturbances in their propagation in such waters, and this explains their limited growth in rivers and streams with a fast flow rate.
5. Light
When blue-green algae populations are exposed to long periods of high light intensity (photo-inhibition), these are diminished but have optimal growth when intermittently exposed to high light intensities. These conditions prevail under the water surface, where the light environment is fluctuating.Blue-green algae have higher growth rates than any other group of algae even under low light conditions, or in turbid water. This ability to adapt to variable light conditions gives cyanobacteria a competitive advantage over other algal species.
6. Turbidity
The presence of suspended particles and organic matter (flocs) in the water column cause turbidity. High turbidity occurs when a lot of water is running through the system (high discharge after a rain event). Low turbidity occurs when there is only a small amount of suspended matter present in the water column.
The slow-moving or stagnant water can cause low turbidity that allows suspended particles to settle out of the water column. When turbidity is low, more light can penetrate through the water column, and optimal conditions for algal growth created. In return, growing algae create a turbid environment.
Effects of Algal Bloom on Aquatic Ecosystems
1. Endangerment to Human Health/life
Algal blooms produce toxins that reduce the suitability of water for human consumption. Their large presence on the water and their well propagating sequences leads to quick contamination of water, thus posing a health hazard to humans. Strong irritation, itching, and even skin diseases are experienced when such contaminated water comes into contact with the human skin.
2. Death of Aquatic Life
For any living organism to survive, they need oxygen for respiration. Fishes and other aquatic life depend on the oxygen dissolved in water. Similarly, for the algae bacterium to survive, it needs oxygen for survival.
However, in plant life, a high mode of propagation and dense growth in a very short period of time increases competition for oxygen, leading to an imbalance in the aquatic ecosystem and suffocation of aquatic animals like fish. More death of aquatic animals means more food for the algae leading to faster propagation and, in the long-run, deterioration of aquatic life.
3. Ocean Dead Zones
Nutrient pollution can create dead zones in water with little or no oxygen, where aquatic life cannot survive. Also known as hypoxia, these areas are caused by algal blooms consuming oxygen as they die and decompose. This can result in the massive deaths of aquatic life.
As a result, the area around the algal blooms will be a dead zone with a dead animal and plant life alike. The resulting foul smell may affect the rest of the aquatic life, sending them further away from the area.
More than 166 dead zones have been documented nationwide, affecting water bodies like the Chesapeake Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico dead zone is the largest in the United States, measuring 5,840 square miles. It occurs every summer because of nutrient pollution from the Mississippi River Basin, an area that drains 31 upstream states.
More than 166 dead zones have been documented nationwide, affecting water bodies like the Chesapeake Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico dead zone is the largest in the United States, measuring 5,840 square miles. It occurs every summer because of nutrient pollution from the Mississippi River Basin, an area that drains 31 upstream states.
4. Strain on Economies
The presence of algal bloom makes transport on waterways cumbersome, leading to more expensive means of transport such as air. Countries that have realized the growth of algal blooms too late have to seek alternative transport routes to engage in trade, resulting in economic losses.
Also, since the growth of algal blooms leads to the death of aquatic life, there can be widespread losses to fishermen who depend on fishing as an income-generating activity. Moreover, the concept and process of treatment of the algal bloom is a costly affair and often requires millions of taxpayers’ money.
5. Strain on Industries
Algal blooms badly affect fishing and shellfish industries killing fish and contaminating shellfish. Annual losses to these industries from nutrient pollution are estimated to be in the tens of millions of dollars.
Besides, some industries, for example, food processing companies, only require clean water from water bodies to drive their production. This means that the presence of algal blooms will cause additional water treatment costs to get clean water leading to increased overhead costs.
6. Losses in the Tourism Industry
With the dense growth of algal blooms on natural recreational water surfaces, the tourism industry suffers greatly as the resulting foul smell, and dead zones mean there are no fishes to catch, no available ways to navigate the water, and no swimming or boating activities.
7. High Water Utility Bill for Domestic Consumers
With algal blooms contamination or not, people still need water for consumption. The municipality will have to invest in water treatment processes that eliminate the toxins caused by algal blooms.
In some cases, extensive growth of algal blooms may lead to scarcity of fresh drinking water if the town or community depends on the contaminated source as the only one for distributing consumption water. All these factors increase the costs of treatment and the demand for water, which eventually dramatically raises the water utility bills for domestic consumers.
8. Algae Affect the Food Chain
Sometimes harmful algal blooms create toxins that are detrimental to fish and other animals. After being consumed by small fish and shellfish, these toxins move up the food chain and can impact larger animals like sea lions, turtles, dolphins, birds and manatees. Even if algal blooms are not toxic, they can negatively impact aquatic life by blocking out sunlight and clogging fish gills.
9. Ozone Pollution
Airborne nitrogen compounds like nitrogen oxides help in the formation of other air pollutants such as ground-level ozone, a component of smog that can restrict visibility.
Wind and weather can carry ozone many miles from urban to rural areas. Ozone pollution can damage trees and harm the appearance of vegetation and scenic areas.
10. Reduced Property Value
Clean water raises the value of a nearby home by up to 25 percent, whereas waterfront property values can decline because of the unpleasant sight and odor of algal blooms.
11. Acid Rain
The nutrient pollution in the air causes acid rain, which damages lakes, streams, estuaries, forests and grasslands across the country.
Some Interesting Solutions to Algal Bloom
1. Proper Sewage Treatment
In a bid to limit the presence of nitrogen and phosphorus in water, there is a need to treat sewage water using the recommended waste treatment procedure – the five-step process that ensures optimal treatment.
Disinfection and the tertiary treatment to remove components such as nitrogen and phosphorus through processes such as nitrification and the eventual sludge treatment is mandatory to prevent feeding main water sources such as rivers, lakes, oceans, and streams with excessive nutrients. Quality water treatment processes also ensure people are consuming safe water and, above all, protect aquatic life.
For Lake Clear property owners, the most effective approach would be to institute a Septic System Re-inspection Program (SSRP) to periodically confirm that your septic system is working as intended and to undertake repairs before they affect the lake.
Also, care and restoration of your shoreline and the 30-metre buffer zone between the high water mark and your septic system will serve to absorb much of the phosphorus that is running off to the lake from your septic system.
2. Reduction of Pollution and Water Wastage on a Personal Level
To achieve the global environmental conservation goals of minimal pollution, it has to start with individual initiatives by minimizing wastage, recycling, and reusing to save the environment.
When all people do this, at home, at work, or school, it can work towards reducing the overall nutrient load into water bodies and even ease the water treatment process. Ultimately, it can aid in minimizing the dense growth of algae in the water.
3. Optimal Fertilizer Application
Fertilizers have to be used by farmers to boost crop yields by providing them with deficient nutrients. However, it can be done optimally by utilizing options such as top dressing or spraying, depending on the nutrients to be administered. Farmers are advised to consult from agricultural experts about the mode and quantity of fertilizer to use.
Employing the most desirable practices and applying the right amounts of fertilizers can ensure both the optimal growth of the crops as well as balanced toxicity or nutrient concentration in the soil.
On the onset of rain, it would mean only small quantities of chemicals are washed into waterways, reducing the incidence of algal bloom.
Even for lawn and garden care, apply fertilizers only when necessary and at the recommended amount. Don’t apply fertilizer before windy or rainy days or in an area close to waterways. Also, store unused fertilizers and dispose of empty containers properly.
For Lake Clear Property owners, there is no excuse for using fertilizers on lake front properties. Just don’t do it!
4. Use of Hydrogen Peroxide
The compound has been used as an effective treatment against algal blooms. This is suitable for smaller water bodies such as large ponds or small lakes for the easy monitoring of the compound’s impact as well as the aquatic life.
5. Ultrasound Bloom Treatment
This technology focuses on ultrasonic sound waves in water bodies to look for algal blooms and to control their growth if discovered – reducing algae growth by up to 90%. All this is tried and tested, and thus, no harm comes upon aquatic life, as it is 100% environmentally friendly with the added advantage of low operational costs.
This treatment monitors large water bodies and can determine based on the prevailing conditions, whether the threat of algal bloom is present or not.
These waves are sent over the top layer of the water bodies to counter the buoyancy, making them sink and disable photosynthesis. The algae eventually die due to the absence of light.
6. Use of Non-toxic Cleaning supplies at Home
Choose non-toxic phosphate-free detergents, soaps, and household cleaners at home and while washing your car. Use the amount of detergent or soap sparingly; more is not better.
Select the proper load size for your washing machine. Only run your clothes or dishwasher when you have a full load. Use a commercial car wash that requires disposing of wastewater properly, and many of them filter and recycle their water.
For lake Clear property owners, try to minimize water use overall. Virtually every litre of water you put into your septic system will exit the system and is headed directly to the lake, loaded with phosphorus! The buffer zone, which, hopefully, has been left natural, can absorb much of the nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) before it can enter the lake.
Much of this article was taken from an eco-conscious blogger, called “ Conserve Energy Future”. Here is his URL:
https://www.conserve-energy-future.com
|
|