Algae in water reservoirs can be serious. That’s where Jet Blast comes in.
Water reservoirs play an essential role in our lives. Across the United States, there are over 84,000 reservoirs used for drinking water, irrigation, flood control, recreation, and hydropower. These reservoirs come in all sizes—from massive systems like Lake Mead to small municipal sources—and, together, they hold more than 600 million acre-feet of water.
While these bodies of water serve a variety of purposes, those designated for public water supply are especially critical. They must meet strict standards for cleanliness and safety, enforced by agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, local water utilities, and health departments. However, one persistent threat to water quality continues to challenge reservoir operators: algae in water reservoirs.
What Makes Algae in Water Reservoirs So Dangerous?
Algae are naturally occurring organisms, but when they grow out of control—what we call algae blooms—they can cause a host of problems, especially in drinking water reservoirs.
Here’s why algae in water reservoirs is a serious concern:
- Health Hazards: Some algae, like blue-green algae (cyanobacteria), can release harmful toxins such as microcystins. If these enter drinking water systems, they can cause gastrointestinal illness, liver damage, and other serious health effects. A well-known example occurred in Toledo, Ohio, in 2014, when residents were warned not to drink or even use their tap water for several days due to toxic algae contamination.
- Treatment Disruptions: High algae levels can clog water treatment filters and force operators to backwash filters more often. This disrupts the treatment process, increases chemical usage, and drives up operating costs.
- Taste and Odor Complaints: Algae can release compounds like geosmins that give water an earthy or musty taste and smell, problems that chemicals often can’t fully remove.
- Environmental Damage: Algae blooms reduce oxygen levels in the water, which can kill fish and disrupt local ecosystems. They also lead to the accumulation of organic sludge, which changes the physical makeup of the reservoir over time.
Traditional Solutions Often Fall Short
In response to algae outbreaks, many treatment plants turn to chemical solutions like algaecides. While these can temporarily kill algae, they often make the problem worse in the long run:
- Toxins Are Released: When algae die, they release toxins into the water, which can be even more harmful than the living algae.
- Increased Chemical Use: Plants may need to use more chlorine and other chemicals to control the resulting water quality problems, which can lead to harmful by-products.
- No Long-Term Fix: These methods treat symptoms, not the underlying causes of algae in water reservoirs.
A Better Way to Manage Algae in Water Reservoirs
Fortunately, there are safer, more sustainable approaches to managing algae in water reservoirs. Instead of relying on chemicals, some systems now use natural, biological solutions that restore balance to the reservoir’s ecosystem.
These advanced methods include:
- Bioaugmentation: Adding natural enzymes and beneficial microbes to break down the organic sludge in reservoirs, like composting underwater. This reduces the buildup of nutrients that feed algae.
- Micronutrient Supplements: Introducing small amounts of key nutrients that support beneficial organisms, which in turn help keep algae in check.
- Dissolved Oxygen Management: Ensuring that oxygen levels are balanced throughout the water column helps prevent conditions that allow harmful algae and metals like manganese or iron to thrive.
In just a few months of implementing these methods, results can include:
- Better taste and smell of drinking water
- Increased oxygen levels and healthier aquatic life
- Reduced chemical usage at treatment plants
- Lower operating costs and fewer disruptions
At the end of the day, clean water isn’t just about filtration—it’s about prevention, smart management, and keeping our ecosystems in balance.
Looking for safe, sustainable solutions for managing algae in water reservoirs? Stay informed about natural treatment alternatives that promote long-term water quality without the need for excessive chemicals or costly downtime.
Contact Jet Blast Inc. Today!
Jet Blast® Industrial Services strives every day in an effort to provide our customers with the best service and equipment possible. Providing a safe and stable workplace has allowed us to keep a team of quality people, with most having a tenure of 15 – 25 years with Jet Blast®. With all that experience under one roof, we have been able to provide reliable 24-hour service since 1979. I believe this helps to set us apart from the competition.
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