For utilities using surface water sources, blue-green algae – or cyanobacteria – presents a serious risk, with algae blooms leading to potential toxic algae as well as taste and odour issues.
A common prevention measure for this issue is blanket dosing chemical in the summer months – but what if there was a better way?
If you ask Lutra, there is.
The company worked with Kapiti District Council (KCDC) to run a trial of a new blue-green algae monitoring, prediction and mitigation system at the New Zealand council’s Waikanae water treatment plant.
The primary goal of the project was to create a reliable system to monitor when cyanobacteria and algae entered the water treatment plant, whilst also providing insights into the health and predicted upstream presence of algae within the waterway.
The approach involved working closely with the onsite operations team, the development of a sampling plan and the installation of instrumentation to establish a robust monitoring system.
Consisting of two advanced sensors, the monitoring system directly measured the concentrations of algae and cyanobacteria entering the plant.
These sensors – spectrofluorometers from TriOS – measure phycocyanin and chlorophyll-a by emitting light and analysing the fluorescence at specific wavelengths.
Although the sensors do not identify species or count organisms, they provide crucial indicators of the empirical presence and concentration of these potentially harmful microorganisms.
Such insights are invaluable for water utilities, with informed, real-time decisions about treatment playing a critical role in the delivery of clean, healthy water to communities.
To enhance the predictive capabilities, Lutra integrated the sensor data with other online data sources using Lutra Infrastructure Data.
This integration allowed Lutra to correlate the presence of cyanobacteria and algae with various environmental factors such as rainfall, temperature, sunlight hours and water chemistry. By analysing these relationships, Lutra developed a predictive model that helps anticipate potential risks and take proactive measures.
The system proved to be a powerful tool for managing plant operations – providing real-time data that helps operators adjust dosing levels and other treatment parameters, without the need for constant manual inspection or delayed results from laboratory testing.
This automation not only improves efficiency but also increases visibility – and therefore reduces risks and operational costs. In this case, KCDC expects to save around $40,000 per year in powder activated carbon (PAC) chemical costs.
The versatile monitoring system can be adapted to other water treatment plants. By understanding the variations in conditions of a water source – such as temperature, drought and chemistry – and then visualising this data, the system can provide valuable insights and predictions for utilities.
As more utilities in Australia look to optimise treatment processes, the adaptability of Lutra’s versatile monitoring system makes it an invaluable tool for water treatment facilities Australia-wide.
As experts in everything water and wastewater treatment, Lutra’s practical process engineers are leading the way to a smarter, more sustainable water future.
For more information, visit lutra.com.au/blog/cyano-monitor
