Cyanobacteria

The City of Bowling Green in Ohio draws its water from the Maumee River, which in summer has extremely high levels of algae and cyanobacteria into its reservoir which has a capacity for no more than about 30 days supply of drinking water.

Historically, algae levels in the reservoir also soar and cyanobacteria become dominant making the risk of microcystin contamination a constant risk. In April 2017 our solution was commissioned in the reservoir.

The data shows that by 24^th May cyanobacteria levels were down and diatoms were dominant. Late July through to September is the worst time for cyanobacteria levels.

Data from the beginning of August 2016 shows that cyanobacteria were dominant, representing 69% of the phycological cell count at over 85 000 cells per ml.

At the same time in 2017, the river water showed a similar level of total phycological cells at around 150 000 per ml, 42% of which were cyanobacteria. However, in the reservoir, the total cell count was just 41 000 and cyanobacteria made up less than 1%.

The data shows that though Cyanophyta (cyanobacteria) dominated in 2012, after commissioning the solution, Cyanophyta numbers reduced by 90% and their dominance ceased.