Algae Problems in Eastern Lake Erie

Author(s): Lawrence G. Clare and N.E. Hopson

Source: Journal (American Water Works Association) , March 1975, Vol. 67, No. 3, Macro
and Microlife (March 1975), pp. 131-134
Published by: Wiley

Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/41268169

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 In this survey the particular organisms plants are in the types of filter media used,
causing problems at water-treatment the normal daily summer production in
Algae Problems in plants in the eastern basin were isolated, relation to nominal capacity, and the
and remedial treatment methods were chemical treatment provided at the onset
Eastern Lake Erie then analyzed. The plants studied in- of algal problems. These basic differences
cluded those for the city of Dunkirk, the are illustrated in Table 1. The Woodlawn
city of Buffalo, the Wanakah Wtr. Co., and and Wanakah plants consistently exceed
two Erie County Wtr. Auth. plants at their rated capacities during the summer
Lawrence G. Clare and Sturgeon Point and Woodlawn. months, whereas the Sturgeon Point and
Dunkirk plants have excess capacity.
N.E. Hopson Previous Studies
In Lake Erie and the Great Lakes, Algae
specific genera have been found to causePlankton samples were obtained from
A contribution submitted to the JOURNAL
water-plant problems. In 1964 Cleveland the raw-water tap (or point normally used
on Jun. 22, 1973, by Lawrence G. Clare
experienced shortened filter runs as a for
re- sampling) at each of the plants on a
(Active Member, AWWA), sr. san. engr.,
sult of the spring diatom pulse ( Melosira ,
weekly basis beginning in July of 1968.
New York State Dept. of Envir. Conser-
vation, Buffalo, N.Y.; and N.E. Hopson Tabellaria, Asterionella ) and taste-and-The samples obtained represented bot-
(Active Member, AWWA), engr., Havens odor difficulties as a result of the summer tom-water conditions at the depths shown
& Emerson, Ltd., Cleveland, Ohio. pulse of blue-green algae (principallyin Fig. 1. After the first year, samples were
Aphanizomenon) ? In the same year, Portobtained only during the critical summer
Clinton, Ohio, experienced taste-and-odormonths, except for the Buffalo plant,
problems caused by Anabaena organisms where full yearly sampling continued.
Algae reduce the palatability of pota-
in its supplies. In Lake Michigan, Several significant observations were
ble water supplies by producing Tabellaria and Stephanodiscus have been made after the first year of sampling.
taste- and odor-causing substances cited as the major filter-clogging organ-Despite varying water depths and intake
and limit the capacity of water-treat- isms by Garnet3 and Vaughn,4 respec- locations, the organisms observed at the
ment plants by clogging filters. Thesetively. Taste-and-odor problems from five sites were relatively uniform in terms
two problems were evaluated at five Lake Michigan water have been at- of numbers and types of algae. The Wana-
water-treatment plants in the tributed to Uroglenopsis and Dinobryon. kah plant generally had higher total
eastern basin of Lake Erie over a five- Numerous investigators5*7 have shown counts than any of the other plants and
year period. that yearly repetitions of algal pulses can
the Sturgeon Point plant lower counts.
be anticipated in a lake. In Lake Erie a A definite repetitious cycle of algal
spring pulse of diatoms normally occurs types was observed in this study. As may
Lake Erie has often been cited as the after ice breakups when temperatures be seen in Fig. 2, the algae counts in the
warm to 5C. Since 1950 the dominant
prime example of a eutrophic lake plagued early months of the year were extremely
by excessive algal populations. Most re-genera in the western basin has changed small « 20 organisms/ml). During these
cent studies have focused on the western from Asterionella to Melosira. The autumn months ice covers the lake and limits
basin of Lake Erie in the Toledo- pulse, also composed of diatoms, consists sunlight. In early spring when the water
Cleveland basin area. Little attention has of Melosira , Synedra , and Fragilaria. Ana- warms to 7C a surge of diatoms occurs.
been paid to the eastern half of the lake. baena , a blue-green algae, has also been During this period of time it is not uncom-
Even less attention has been paid to the present in recent years. mon for at least one sample to show an in-
particular problems of water-treatment-Remedial steps to reduce or eliminate festation of Chlorella. This happens partic-
plant operators as they relate to algal con- algal problems include microstraining, ularly at the plants nearest streams-
trol. Since many municipalities utilize carbon adsorbtion, and oxidation within a Buffalo, Wanakah, and Woodlawn. It is
Lake Erie as a potable water supply, the treatment plant by various chemicals. also not uncommon to measure a high
effects of algae on water treatment are of Berry8 has reported on the successful usenumber of flagellate organisms ( Carteria
prime importance to producers, con- of microstrainers on Lake Erie water con- or Perdinium) sometime during May. This
sumers, and regulatory agencies. taining diatoms ( Melosira , Fragilaria , algal population dies out in early
first
Algae have been responsible for a num- Tabellaria , and Asterionella) and June, after which a two-week period of
ber of problems relating to the use of blue-green varieties ( Anabaena , Anacystis low, counts is normally observed.
water as a resource. The dying off of largeand Aphanizomenon ). At the end of June when water temper-
concentrations of algae (algal blooms) and Chemical oxidation has been shown to atures reach about 18C, green algae be-
their resulting decay on beaches makes be an effective means of controllingcome un- dominant with populations maxi-
some waterways undesirable for recrea- desirable tastes and odors in finished mizing in mid-July. At the end of July
tional purposes. Algae are responsible formanganate,11 and chlorine dioxide910 with water
are temperatures reaching 23C, a
the depletions of dissolved oxygen, and the principal agents employed. Carbon pulse ad-
of blue-green algae often exceeding
this in turn interferes with the propaga- sorption by means of either powdered 100 organisms/ml
ac- is usually recorded.
tion of many fish species. Most important,tivated carbon or carbon filter media has This pulse rarely lasts more than one
algae may reduce the filtration capacity ofalso been found to be an effective means week and disappears by mid-August.
water-treatment plants and cause taste- of combating taste-and-odor prob- In the fall of each year a mixture of
and-odor problems. lems.4'6'12 algal types is observed. Although total
Palmer1 has identified the most signifi- plankton counts range up to 100 orga-
cant freshwater algae genera associated Plants Studied nisms/ml, no single type of algae clearly
with water-treatment-plant problems in The location of the five water-treatment dominates. However, as the water cools to
the US. Synura , a flagellate, and Anabaena ,plants employed in this study is shown in 15C in November, fairly large counts of
a blue-green algae, are the prime exam- Fig. 1. Each of the plants relies on Lake diatoms reappear and predominate
ples of organisms that cause taste-and- Erie as a raw-water source. All of the through the end of the year.
odor problems. Melosira , a diatom, and plants provide complete treatment, Table con- 2 illustrates the relative stability
Spirogyra , a green algae, have been shownsisting of screening, flocculation, of sedi-
the dominant genera in each of the four
to clog sand filters in water-treatment mentation, filtration, and disinfection. definite, significant algal pulses over the
plants. The basic differences in treatment at the five-year study. Typically, the diatom,
MARCH 1975 L.G. CLARE AND N.E. HOPSON 1 31

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 TABLE 1
Differences in Treatment-Plant Operations

Summer
Water Rated Prod. Filter
Treatment Capacity Average Media Chemicals
Plants mgd mgd Used Used*

Dunkirk 8.0 6.3 Af, S AC

Sturgeon Point 40.0 28.0 S AC, CD, PP
Wanakah 1.0 1.15 An B, AC, CD,
PP
Woodlawn 20.0 23.0 S AC,CD,PP
Buffalo 160.0 150.0 Af, S AC, CD

*Af = Anthrafilt; S = sand; AC = activated carbon;

CD = chlorine dioxide; PP = potassium permanganate;
An » anthracite; B = bentonite.

TABLE 2
Algal Pulses

Season

Year Spring Summer Fall

1968 not sampled Mougeotia Stephanodiscus

Anabaena
1969 Asterionella Mougeotia Stephanodiscus
Melosira Anabaena
1970 Asterionella Mougeotia -
Aphanizomenon
1971 Asterionella Oocystis Stephanodiscus
Anabaena
1972 - Mougeotia Fragilaria
Anabaena Stephanodiscus
Starastrum

TABLE 3
Shortest Filter Runs

Algae

Plant Date Genera organisms/ml hr:min

Dunkirk 7-23-69 Mougeotia 67 M-32

6-12-69 various 15 42:45
7-15-70 Mougeotia 85 44:42
6-11-70 various 13 43:08
Sturgeon
Point* 8- 7-68 Mougeotia 105 20:00
Wanakah 7- 9-69 Mougeotia 92 15:00
6-12-69 various 22 19:00
Fig. 1 . Study Area 4-22-70 Asterionella 125 27:00
7-15-70 Mougeotia 215 36:00
Woodlawn 6-12-69 various 11 7:00
7- 9-69 Mougeotia 23 8:00
8- 7-68 Mougeotia 82 8:00
6-11-70 various 24 8:00
7-15-70 Mougeotia 64 8:00
Buffalo 8- 7-68 Mougeotia 84 9:24
7-31-68 Mougeotia 29 18:42
7-15-70 Mougeotia 147 22:42

•No other years available

Plankton and diatom samples that

contribute to taste and odor problems i
Fig. 2. Typical Algal Cycle water supplies.

1 32 WATER TECHNOLOGY/QUALITY JOURNAL AWWA

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Asterionella, predominates in the spring reduction of filter runs by algae has only 3. The length of any particular problem
months. A green algae, usually Mougeotia, been observed in the summer (June, varied July,from two to six weeks, although the
is dominant in July. Anabaena appears in and August), the season when maximum end points were not well defined.
late July and early August. Diatoms again filtration capacity is required. Table 3
persist in November and December with shows the most significantly shortened Taste-and-odor problems appear to be
coincident with the first occurrence of
Stephanodiscus the most common. filter runs recorded in the study. A brief
Out of a total of 587 samples, Stara- review of these figures shows some cor- blue-green algae. Of a possible 21 correla-
strum , a desmid, appeared in 479, or 82 relation between the occurrence of filter- tions, blue-green algae are positively im-
per cent of the samples. Following in fre- clogging problems and the Mougeotia plicated in sixteen cases {Anabaena- 13,
quency of occurrence were Pediastrum-a. pulse that occurs in July. In every year Aphanizomenon- 3). Dinobryon and Cerati-
green algae, Fragilaria- a diatom, and when Mougeotia pulses were significant, um, , both flagellates, are suspect in four of
Stephanodiscus- a diatom. Mougeotia , a the water-treatment plants experienced the remaining cases.
green algae, was most often found to be filter-clogging problems. Filter-run reduc- Although the blue-green pulse does not
the dominant genera. Of 587 samples, 97 tions of up to 50 per cent (20-25 hr) werelast as long as the taste-and-odor problem,
or 16.5 per cent were considered to be the implications of the initial correlation
not unusual. In 1971 when Oocystis re-
dominated by this algae. The largest count placed Mougeotia as the dominant green are strongly supported. With the tendency
of algae- 603 organisms/ml- was found algae during the July pulse, no filter-runof blue-green algae to form surface
in a sample taken on May 29, 1969, at reductions were recorded. blooms, it is possible that these algae float
Wanakah. The largest count of a single or- Table 313also illustrates another impor- the surface and remain there during
to
ganism- 400 Aphanizomenon organisms/ tant factor in the algae cycle. During the August without being drawn into water-
ml- was found in a sample obtained on lull in total algal counts that occurs in plant intakes. This hypothesis is sup-
Aug. 4, 1970, at Woodlawn. mid-June, filter runs are significantly ported in part by the absence of secondary
It is interesting to note that many of the shorter than during most other periods.
pulses, which would be anticipated at the
genera that dominate other research stud- This fact implies a connection exists be- shallower intakes if floating algae were
ies do not appear significant in this one. tween the presence of algae and floe for- being drawn into the plant
intakes. Also, the metabolic and de-
Cladophora , the attached green algae so mation. When there are extremely low
objectionable on beaches, was only ob- counts of algae, alum floe may carry over composition products from floating algal
served in eight samples. Melosira , a from the clarifiers in excessive quantities, masses could very well be responsible for
diatom that appears in considerable num-thereby reducing filter runs. Thus, it the persistent taste-and-odor problems
bers in the western basin, was only pres- seems that some algal mass may be that extend into early September when
ent in significant quantities in the spring beneficial to water-treatment processes.water It temperatures begin to decrease.
of 1969. Synedra and Uroglenopsis , taste- should also be noted that the problems The theory of blue-green algae repro-
and odor-causing algae in Lake Michigan,experienced at Wanakah in 1970 were not ducing on the bottom and floating to the
were not measured in appreciable quan- as severe when artificial turbidity (ben- surface with the development of gas
tities. tonite) was being fed into the water prior vacuoles has been described by Silvey et
to clarification. al.14 Hartley and Potos5 measured peak
Filter-Clogging Problems With respect to the filter-clogging prob- concentrations of blue-green algae in
All of the treatment plants surveyed lems identified in this study, it is obvious Lake Erie during the middle and end of
undergo shortened filter runs during the from Table 3 that an inverse relationship August. This study would seem to support
critical summer months when maximum between total Mougeotia counts and the Silvey's theory if the maximum blue-
plant production is required to fulfill con- length of filter runs is not consistent. green concentrations measured by Hart-
Because of the number of variables in- ley and Potos were surface samples.
sumer demands. It is not, however, pos-
sible to directly compare the problems ex- volved and with only weekly sampling,Ceratium a and Dinobryon were the re-
perienced at each of the plants. This isvalid mathematical correlation was not maining organisms observed in appreci-
deemed justifiable. able quantities during the onset of taste-
because of the different factors affecting
and-odor problems. Dinobryon can only be
the length of each filter run. Some of these Taste-and-Odor Problems associated slightly with the problem, since
factors are apparent from data in Table 1.
For example, production demands are notThe quantitative measurement of taste algal counts showed < 40 organisms/ml
equal at each of the plants. The Dunkirk and odors by standard procedures and
such aslasted one week at two plants. The
plant never exceeds a filtration rate of 1.7 the Threshold Odor Test is only a valuable presence of Ceratium , on the other hand,
gpm/sq ft, whereas the Woodlawn plant tool where a board of impartial, qualified lasted longer but algal counts showed
'< 50
is organisms/ml. Since Ceratium counts
frequently exceeds a rate of 2.3 gpm/sq observers
ft. is available. Such a technique
Filter media are also different. The voids not recommended for use by an of
operator63 and 45 organisms/ml did not coin-
alone. Because of the difficulty of main- cide with taste-and-odor problems at the
in a sand filter (Sturgeon Point) are much
smaller than those in an anthrafilt filter taining a consistent board of observers Dunkirk and Wanakah plants, respec-
over the extended period of the survey tively, it would not appear that this orga-
(Buffalo) and thus plug much faster. Set-
and a limited applicability to future plant nism can be blamed for taste-and-odor
tling efficiencies also vary significantly
operations, no continuous problems.
quantitative
among the five plants.
measure of threshold odors was made. Remedial Treatment
The most significant factor in each
plant's filtering operations are the criteria In order to qualitatively evaluate the Taste-and-odor problems in eastern
used for backwashing filters. The Dunkirktaste-and-odor problem, it is necessary to Lake Erie are combated chiefly through
consider the first occurrence of a notice-
and Wanakah plants backwash filters the use of oxidants (Cl2, C102, and
when a total head loss of 6 ft is attained. able odor at the plants. From the notations
KMn04) and with carbon adsorption.
The Buffalo plant will backwash its filters made in sampling, the following observa-
tions can be made
Chlorine dioxide is used at the Wanakah,
either after 72 hr of running time or when Woodlawn, and Buffalo plants to combat
a head loss of 6 ft is reached, whichever 1. The first, as well as the most trou- both algae-related problems and problems
comes first. The Sturgeon Point and blesome, taste-and-odor problem was ob- associated with the occasional influx of
Woodlawn plants wash filters every 24 hr served between Jul. 21 and Aug. 10 at all phenols from area industries. Potassium
or more often with excessive head losses. plants. permanganate has been tried with moder-
Even though maximum algal counts are 2. Problems were not experienced at the ate success at the Wanakah, Woodlawn,
often recorded in the spring or fall, the plants in any particular discernible order. and Sturgeon Point treatment plants.
MARCH 1975 L.G. CLARE AND N.E. HOPSON 1 33

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Modified breakpoint chlorination is also omenon appear to be the responsible or-
used at all five plants. It can generally be ganisms.
stated that the oxidation of taste- and 5. None of the five plants surveyed was Aquatic-Weed Decay
odor-causing substances has not been completely successful in resolving algal
successful. problems. Wanakah, the most severely af- and Color Production
The use of activated carbon is being fected plant, appears to have made the
practiced at all five plants to some degree. most progress in resolving both of the ma-
Dosages vary up to approximately 4 mg/1, jor problems through the use of artificial John T. Novak,
and some definite improvement in fin- turbidity and granular carbon filters.
ished water quality is discernible. Consid- 6. By using the defined algal cycle and Alan S. Goodman ,
erably larger dosages (20-30 mg/1) would routine in-plant microscopic examina- and Darrell L King
be required to completely eliminate objec- tions, treatment-plant personnel can pre-
tionable tastes and odors. The Wanakah dict taste-and-odor problems and take
water plant replaced a sand-filter medium whatever preventive measures are appro- A contribution submitted to the JOURNAL
with anthracite in 1969 with excellent priate. on Nov. 22, 1972, by John T. Novak (Ac-
results. Even though the Wanakah plant tive Member, AWWA), assoc. prof., civ.
received the poorest quality raw water Acknowledgment
of engrg., Univ. of Missouri, Columbia, Mo.;
the five plants in 1969 and 1970, finished The authors would like to thank Mat- Alan S. Goodman, san. engr., EPA, Kansas
water quality was far superior. These thew ob-Lanighan of the Erie County Health City, Mo.; and Darrell L. King, prof., civ.
servations confirm the results obtained Dept. byLabs, for the laboratory work for engrg., Univ. of Missouri, Columbia, Mo.
Hansen12 in Mt. Clements, Michigan,this withstudy as well as the chemists at each
Lake St. Clair water. of the water-treatment plants for their
It is obvious that more effective treat- cooperation and assistance. Color organics are known to reduce
ment of taste- and odor-causing sub- the acceptability of surface waters
stances is needed. By making use of the References for domestic water supply and to af-
algal cycle determined as part of this 1. Palmer, C.M. Algae in Water Supplies. fect algal production. In this research
study, water-treatment-plant operators HEW Public Health Svce. Pubn. No. 657.
it is shown that soluble organics iden-
may now initiate preventive treatment of Washington, D.C. (1959).
tical to those found in colored acid
water before hearing consumer com- 2. Poston, H.W. & Gamet, M.B. Effect of
plaints. It is apparent that the blue-green Algae on Filter Runs With Great Lakesbogs are produced as a byproduct
Water. Jour. AWWA, 56:9:1203 (Sep. during the decay of naturally occur-
algal pulse may be expected at any time
1964).
after Jul. 20. (See Fig. 2). If maximum ring aquatic vegetation. Sufficient
3. Gamet, Merrill B. & Rademacher, John
feed rates of powdered, activated carbon
M. Study of Short Filter Runs With Lake
color may be provided from the
are initiated and maintained after that
Michigan Water. Jour. AWWA, 52:1:137 decay of aquatic plants produced
time, many consumer complaints can be (Jan. 1960). during a single growing season to
avoided and a much more palatable, 4. Vaughn, James C. Special Lake Water stimulate algal growth.
finished water produced. Similarly, the use Treatment Problems. Jour. AWWA,
of artificial turbidity with low algal popula- 64:9:585 (Sep. 1972).
tions and raw-water turbidity may prove5. Hartley, Robert P. & Potos, Chris p.
During the past decade a considerable
to be effective in increasing water pro- Algae-Temperature-Nutrient Relation- amount of research has been devoted to
ships and Distribution in Lake Erie - 1968.
duction during this critical period.
EPA Wtr. Qual. Ofce., Region V, the Lakestudy of colored surface waters.1"7
Erie Basin. Chicago, 111. (Feb. 1971). These waters are often referred to as acid
6. Taft, Clarence E. Algae in Water Sup- bogs, swamps, or bog lakes and are com-
Summary
plies. Short course held at State Univ. Col-monly found in Florida, Georgia, and the
Algal populations in the eastern basin lege at Buffalo, Buffalo, N.Y. (Jun. 3-12, Carolinas. Numerous bogs also exist in
of Lake Erie are not nearly as high as 1969). the heavily forested areas of several
those reported for the western basin, Lake 7. Chandler, D.C. & Weeks, O.B. Limnologi- northern states. In addition, there are
Michigan, or for numerous other inland cal Studies of Western Lake Erie. Relation
many lakes and streams that cannot be
water bodies. The following specific con- of Limnological and Meteorological Condi-
classified as bogs, yet they contain
tions to the Productivity of Phytoplankton
clusions were reached in this study noticeable amounts of color. The persist-
in 1942. Ecol Monographs, 15:4:435 (Apr.
1. A definite, repeatable, plankton cycle 1945). ence of a yellow to brown color in natural
was identified for the intake depths of 8. Berry, Albert E. Removal of Algae by waters can affect the basic biological ac-
eastern Lake Erie. Microstrainers. Jour. AWWA, 53:12:1503 tivity of these waters and their use by
2. Starastrum , a desmid, was the most (Dec. 1961). man.

common organism observed; Mougeotia 9.
filamentous, green algae was dominant in
the majority of samples.
3. Shortened filter runs are common in
June and July. In June shortened runs ap-
pear to be caused by extremely low algal 11. Cherry, Arnold K. Use of Potassium Per-
counts (5-20 organisms/ml). In such
cases coagulation and settling would ap-
pear to be inefficient, resulting in ex-
cessive floe carrying over to the filters. In
July shortened runs are attributable to the
fact that the filamentous green alga, Mou-
geotia , plugs the filters.
4. Taste-and-odor problems occur in
late July and through August, beginning
at the same time as the blue-green algal
pulse is observed. Anabaena and Aphaniz-
, aSigworth, E.A. Relative Merits of Various
Treatments for Taste and Odor Control.
Taste Odor Cont. Jour., 34:3:1 (Mar. 1968).
1U. biG worth, Jb.A. Relative Merits oi various
Treatments for Taste and Odor Control.
Taste Odor Cont. Jour., 34:4:1 (Apr. 1968).
manganage in Water Treatment. Jour.
AWWA, 54:4:417 (Apr. 1962).
12. Hansen, Robert E. Granular Carbon Fil-
ters for Taste and Odor Removal. Jour.
AWWA, 64:3:176 (Mar. 1972).
13. Westerhoff, Garret P. Experience With
Higher Filtration Rates. Jour. AWWA,
63:6:376 (Jun. 1971).
14. Silvey, J.K.; Henley, D.fc.; & Wyatt, J.l.
Planktonic Blue-Green Algae: Growth
and Odor-Production Studies. Jour.
AWWA, 64:1:35 (Jan. 1972).
Since these waters are aesthetically
pleasing and may contain objection
tastes, their use as a domestic water
ply is diminished. The recreational v
of colored waters is also severely lim
Problems associated with the chemical
treatment of colored waters are likely to
discourage use of such waters by industry.
Furthermore, it has been reported8 that
colored water causes interference with
colorimetric analyses of other compo-
nents of natural waters.
Another serious consequence of col-
ored waters is their effect on autotrophic
productivity. Stimulation of algal growth
has been observed in laboratory cultures
that contained artificial low-level addi-

1 34 WATER TECHNOLOGY/QUALITY JOURNAL AWWA

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