Protecting your community from algal blooms
It is June, and that brings to mind trips to the beach or outings to fish, boat or swim in a local lake or river. Our communities rely upon water – for their health, their economy, their wellbeing. Many of our best times are also spent on or near waterbodies. Water is where we make memories. As a water industry professional, you know and love water for all it gives to us.
Phosphorus removal from wastewater protects those memories.
Algal blooms make for terrible memories, making outings unpleasant or even hazardous to our health.
Federal and state agencies do not track algal blooms. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has tracked news reports of algal blooms since 2010 (https://www.ewg.org/interactive-maps/algal_blooms/map/ ). These news reports are an underestimate of the total number of algal blooms, typically only reporting those that have health risks or that resulted in closure of public access to the waterbody. EWG has documented algal blooms in every state in the US and the trend is steady rise of reports.
Some algal blooms are not merely annoying or inconvenient for recreation and tourism. Some are toxic, producing a variety of toxins that can cause skin irritation, neurological issues, liver and kidney damage, gastrointestinal or respiratory issues, or even death. These harmful algal blooms (HABs) cannot be distinguished from non-toxic blooms by just looking at them, so it is impossible for the public to know if the bloom might cause illness or death.
Waterbodies choked with algae are unpleasant at best. At worst, they can cause illness or even death, with children and pets most at risk. No one wants that memory.
HABs in drinking water supplies can be deadly. Prevention is key.
If a HAB forms on a drinking water reservoir, it poses an immediate threat to the health of the community. Most drinking water treatment plants are not equipped to remove the toxins from water impacted by HABs. The toxins are difficult to treat and require expensive, highly advanced treatment for removal. Unless algal blooms are a frequent occurrence, most utilities can’t justify the expense for a pollutant that is intermittent and unpredictable, so don’t invest in the processes required. Prevention of algal blooms is key.
That’s where the wastewater utility comes in.
Algal blooms are driven by many factors, but the key one is nutrients, and phosphorus heads the list. Removing P from wastewater ensures that your effluent is not contributing to the production of algal blooms, toxic or non-toxic.
Chemical precipitation is required to achieve low P limits reliably.
Neo WaterFX is a lanthanide-based precipitating agent that is selective for phosphorus. It is the most reliable way to achieve low phosphorus concentrations in wastewater and can reduce operating costs compared to other less reliable coagulants.
Reliable and cost-effective, WaterFX is the best choice for P removal.
WaterFX has many operational advantages including reliable dosage requirements, significantly reduced sludge production, better dewatering, pH stability, and operational simplicity and safety. Visit this link to learn of all the ways WaterFX can reduce your phosphorus removal costs.
Then contact us for a free consultation to see if WaterFX is right for your wastewater treatment plant.
Let WaterFX help you protect your community and all its memories from algal blooms.
