Protecting our Drinking Water from Algae

Drinking water utilities need proven, cost-effective and reliable solutions to rid harmful algae from the world’s water supply and aging infrastructure.

Eliminating algae from our water supply is essential to health

An algae problem that requires immediate attention

Nutrient pollution in our drinking water supply results in widespread and costly environmental problems that seriously impact the health and safety of our citizens and communities alike. Addressing such water contamination is a top priority for drinking water utilities throughout the world. When excessive amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus enter our water supply through a wide range of human activities it causes algae to grow faster than our ecosystems can handle. These toxins fuel bacteria growth resulting in harmful algal blooms taking over our water supply.

Economic and Time Constraints
When considering technologies and processes to control harmful algae, the most significant constraints facing operators are money and time. Given workload demands and cost constraints, engineers often cannot apply enough energy and resources towards innovation and explore new technologies. In addition, the immediate concern is aging infrastructure and a declining workforce as a large percentage of workers are nearing retirement age and cannot be replaced fast enough. This translates into increased stress to keep up with the demand of consumers who frequently view water as free and abundantly available.

Rising Temperatures and Populations
Increasingly, algae are appearing where they didn’t before. Reservoirs that were once clear of algae are frequently facing warmer temperatures and an abundance of nutrients. This can become a haven for algae growth and migratory animals, such as birds can transport cyanotoxins from one reservoir to another. Rapid growth across world populations worsens the problem.

Increasing Public Sentiment
The public is becoming far more aware and educated around water contamination issues. Even when there are no immediate health threats, citizens are hypersensitive to water taste and odors stemming from their water. This places added strain on water treatment personnel who work hard to service their communities.

Old solutions are increasingly hard to swallow

Drinking water treatment plant operators work hard to ensure they provide their communities safe, algae-free drinking water. They are also responsible for the physical effects of clogged or damaged infrastructure, such as pipes and filters. Historically, operators have relied heavily on filtration, the application of algaecides, and the placement of aeration devices on reservoirs to increase oxygen levels to assist with the decomposition of vegetation and nutrients, which helps reduce the food supply for algae. While chemicals can kill algae quickly and effectively, there are harmful side effects to the environment.

Ultrasound rids algae from drinking water utilities

Ultrasound technology is a reliable solution to algae control that requires minimal manual intervention, is very safe to use and is proven to be effective in killing algae. The built-in sensors serve as checks to test water health and report intelligently and proactively to personnel who can remotely monitor changes and respond as required.

Ultrasound has been proven to be very effective in killing algae. The system emits a series of ultrasonic sound waves that damage green and blue-green algae, causing them to die. WaterIQ Technologies™ can test your water to determine the species of the algae in question and confirm that the use of ultrasound will be effective.
WaterIQ Technologies ultrasound systems are reliable and require minimal manual intervention. The systems include robust onboard water testing and system reporting capabilities that upload data to the Cloud so you can monitor both the system and water sensor readings, such as dissolved oxygen levels.

WaterIQ Technologies systems can be quickly installed and operational. A Cloud-based solution enables the sharing and interpretation of collected data with prescriptive courses of action. Our support team assists you in identifying and customizing reports for your business.
To learn more about the impact of algae on drinking water, refer to our Primer on Algae and Biofilm

Learn why ultrasound is the best solution for eradicating algae from drinking water

Click on our Resource Center for helpful tools, such as:

Quick Ultrasound Overview – Learn how ultrasound technology works and the benefits to treating algae and biofilm without chemicals.
Algae and Biofilm Challenges – Take a more detailed dive into the problems that algae and biofilm pose in your water, so you can make more informed decisions about how to control them using ultrasound technology from WaterIQ Technologies.

WaterIQ Technologies is ready to help you with Algae treatment challenges

Algae won’t go away by themselves. Let WaterIQ Technologies help you find the best solution to your water purity challenges. Take a look at our case studies and other information in our Resources section, and feel free to contact us at any time for answers to your questions.