Assessing Your Water Body: “One Size Does Not Fit All”

Each water body is unique, with their own set of factors contributing to algal bloom formation. One solution that worked in a certain water body may not work in another.

View Our “One Size Does Not Fit All” Powerpoint Presentation Provided by Dr. David A. Caron

The understanding of your own water body and the factor(s) that promote algal bloom is thus essential in finding the right approach for both short-term treatments and long-term remediation.  This principle involves understanding the chemical, physical and biological factors that drive algal blooms, and taking the appropriate measures to counteract the problem. Some basic guiding principles for this process can be found in a presentation provided by Dr. David A. Caron at the United States EPA Region 9 Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) Meeting, April 25-27, 2017 (Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, CA)

How to Treat the Problem

The formation of algal blooms is a complex issue and one that may not be easily solved. A sustainable solution to remediating the water body may require a long time and large investment. Meanwhile, occurring harmful algal blooms still need to be treated to protect the health and economy of users, so short-term treatments are needed to prevent or eliminate blooms.

These short-term treatments are temporary as their effects don’t last longer than months or a season. Many conventional approaches also use products that leave remnants of harmful substances or even additional nutrients in the water, basically ‘kicking the can down the road’ and causing more problems in the future. Our company recognizes the need for these temporary treatments, but we promote the use of environmentally friendly approaches and can help design strategic treatment plans that aim to reduce unnecessary repeated treatments.