Consultant's Corner: The Impact Of Water Treatment Plant Processes On Algae And Algal Toxins

By Lee H. Odell, PE, CH2M HILL

Algae causes many issues with water treatment plant operations including:  clogging of intake screens, fouling of weirs, disruption of floc settling, production of algal mats, filter clogging from algae or from extracellular organic matter (EOM), increase coagulant demand, increased chlorine demand, increased disinfection by products, pH fluctuations, tastes and odors and release of algal toxins.

What may be lesser known is that water treatment processes also have an effect on algae, and as more and more interest is focused on algal toxins it is important to consider these impacts.