The Pulse - Oct 2024 - WaterIQ Technologies

October 2024

Author

Ryan Carter
Sales / Aquatic Biologist

With over 7 years of experience in lake management, Ryan provides expert guidance on restoring and safeguarding aquatic ecosystems.

Cleaning the Pulsar

Keeping your Pulsar clean is a vital requirement for optimal performance. Clean each unit once a month for fresh water and a minimum of every two weeks in saline environments. Failure to clean is the most common reason residents might see an uptick in algae. You can find instructions here.

Case Study: Polk County, FL

Many lakes in Polk County, Florida, have historically experienced algae blooms that lead to degraded water quality, disruption of ecosystems, and the production of toxins that pose significant risks to wildlife and public health.

WaterIQ’s Sentinel AIQ System & Pulsar 4400™

Blue Lake (54 acres)

Hickory Lake (101 acres)

Blue Lake (54 acres)__________________________Hickory Lake (101 acres)

Polk County Natural Resources partnered with WaterIQ Technologies on two public lakes experiencing harmful algae blooms: Hickory Lake and Lake Blue. Hopeful to find a cost-effective and sustainable solution, they decided to utilize WaterIQ’s Sentinel AIQ systems. Water samples were taken of each lake, revealing the presence of Microcystis, Arthrospira, and Cylindrospermopsis.

Although Microcystis was dominant in both lakes, the presence of Cylindrospermopsis in Blue Lake was particularly concerning due to its ability to reproduce quickly and produce harmful toxins.

Results over a 4-month period:

• Hickory Lake experienced an 85% decrease in cyanobacteria

• Blue Lake experienced a 42% decrease in cyanobacteria

In conclusion:

In both lakes, WaterIQ Technologies’ Sentinel AIQ with pulsar 4400™ demonstrated its effectiveness by significantly reducing the abundance of toxin-producing cyanobacteria and preventing further proliferation. Both Microcystis and Cylindrospermopsis factored into the total concentrations values.

Cyanobacteria concentrations (particles/mL)

October 2024

By Ryan Carter – WaterIQ Technologies Aquatic Biologist

Case Study: Polk County, FL

WaterIQ’s Sentinel AIQ System & Pulsar 4400™

Blue Lake (54 acres)

Hickory Lake (101 acres)

Blue Lake (54 acres)__________________________Hickory Lake (101 acres)

Although Microcystis was dominant in both lakes, the presence of Cylindrospermopsis in Blue Lake was particularly concerning due to its ability to reproduce quickly and produce harmful toxins.

Results over a 4-month period:

• Hickory Lake experienced an 85% decrease in cyanobacteria

• Blue Lake experienced a 42% decrease in cyanobacteria

In conclusion:

Cyanobacteria concentrations (particles/mL)

Algae of the Month

Cylindrospermopsis

Cylindrospermopsis is a planktonic genus of filamentous cyanobacteria that can proliferate into dense blooms in freshwater systems. Certain species within this genus produce cylindrospermopsin, a potent toxin that poses significant risks to humans and aquatic organisms.

This genus thrives in nutrient-enriched environments, contributing to eutrophication processes that lead to hypoxia, or oxygen depletion, in aquatic ecosystems.

Such conditions can create hypoxic zones detrimental to aquatic life. Cylindrospermopsis can outcompete other phytoplankton, disrupting the aquatic food web and impacting ecosystem dynamics.

The economic repercussions of Cylindrospermopsis blooms include increased costs for water treatment and negative effects on recreational activities and fisheries. Effective management requires rigorous monitoring of nutrient levels and algal populations, mitigating nutrient runoff, and implementing control strategies to manage and prevent algal blooms.

Talk to your pond maintenance company about WaterIQ Technologies and the non-chemical benefits we can provide. You can also reach out to us directly here.