Application Note| Monitoring a Harmful Algae Bloom using ATP | February 2019

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Application Note| Monitoring a Harmful Algae Bloom using ATP | February 2019
Problem: A regional water authority was
dealing with an algae bloom in their source
water. They investigated the use of ATP to
rapidly measure algae biovolume.
Facility: A regional water authority with multiple
assets
Investment: The proposed sampling plan
consisted of weekly measurements at 152
sampling sites during the algae bloom. The
anticipated cost for test kits would be
approximately $30,000 AUD ($21,000 USD).
Economic Analysis: The algae bloom cost an
estimated $250 million AUD ($175 million
USD), which included loss of water for drinking,
recreation, agriculture and fishing. Even a 1%
reduction in the overall economic cost of an
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algae bloom would result in a >80x return-on-
investment for implementing rapid ATP testing.
Synopsis: A regional water authority
experiencing an algae bloom investigated the
use of ATP (dQGO-M) as a method of rapidly
quantifying algae biovolume, which is typically
measured using microscopy. ATP was
investigated as it can be measured in minutes,
while the Authority was experiencing turn
around times of 4 days for microscopy limiting
the potential for preventative actions and
expanding the time needed to clear Red Alerts.
Results showed that ATP correlated very well
with microscopy methods for various types of
blue-green algae, including two species of
Microcystis.
Application Note| Monitoring a Harmful Algae Bloom using ATP | February 2019

Application Note
Monitoring a Harmful Algae Bloom using ATP
Blue-green algae are a natural part of most aquatic environments, but they tend to like calm, warm waters with
some nutrients for growth. There are many species of blue-green algae, some produce taste and odour
compounds, these are commonly earthy or musty odours and are not removed by normal water treatment
processes.
Some species can also produce toxins with potential for serious health implications to all animals that come into
contact with them, including humans. The three main types of toxin associated with blue–green algae which are
found in Australia are:
• hepatotoxins, which damage liver cells;
• neurotoxins, which damage nerve cells; and
• cylindrospermopsin, which can damage the liver, kidneys, lungs, heart, stomach, adrenal glands, the
vascular system, and the lymphatic system. With acute clinical symptoms being kidney and liver failure.
Even if blue-green algae are not producing these specific toxins, all blue-green algae have compounds in their
cell structure that can cause allergic reactions in around 10 to 20% of the population.
In the summer of 2015-2016, a regional Victorian Water Authority was experiencing severe challenges from
algae in the Murray River, their water source for 10 communities servicing a population of 15,000+. A Red Alert
was declared for 115 days to these communities. In accordance with regulatory requirements, Recreational Red
Alerts are issued when the combined toxic blue-green algae biovolume reaches 4 mm3/L or when the total blue-
green algae biovolume reaches 10 mm3/L. However, due to the health risks these organisms pose, the Australian
Drinking Water Guidelines recommend that alerts for Drinking Water initiate at a biovolume of 0.6 mm3/L. Over
the 5-month period algae total bio-volume levels were observed well above the Recreational Red Alert trigger
for warning and in one instance >75mm3/L. These conditions presented very big challenges to water authorities
along the River in delivery of safe drinking water to their communities and customers.
In March 2016, the regional Victorian Water Authority sought assistance from LuminUltra Technologies to
investigate the opportunity for 2nd Generation ATP measurement to help with rapid measurement of algae total
bio-volume levels. Existing methods involved sending samples to an external laboratory for measurement and
reporting. This process took 4 days on the express service to deliver the results. With consideration of the critical
nature of the situation, this time for feedback proved additionally problematic for water treatment plants
looking to produce high quality potable water to their customers.

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Application Note| Monitoring a Harmful Algae Bloom using ATP | February 2019

Initial Evaluation Stage

LuminUltra’s test kits are based on the measurement of ATP, which is a direct and interference-free indicator of
total living biomass. ATP is measured using the firefly luciferase assay, in which a sample containing ATP is
introduced to a solution containing the enzyme Luciferase, which naturally occurs in the tails of fireflies, to
produce light. The light is detected in a luminometer as relative Light Units (RLU).
A sanitary survey of 2nd Generation ATP Quench Gone Aqueous (QGA) tests was conducted from source to tap
and in between of the microbial load. Below Table 1 shows results of this testing and Table 2 the LuminUltra
Technologies interpretation guidelines for potable drinking water.

Table 1 : Sample Results Table 2: Interpretation Guidelines

Sample Location cATP (pg/mL) cATP (pg/mL)
Raw Water 4394.9 Good Preventative Corrective
Application
Filtered Water (WTP) 8.5 Control Action Action

Chlorine Contact Tank Potable

3.3 <1 1 to 10 >10
Inlet (WTP) Water
Chlorine Contact Tank
0.3
Outlet (WTP)
Reticulation Sample Tap 0.1

These results demonstrated the ability to collect quantitative measurements of the total microbial load and
threat in each of the various points in the drinking water process from source to tap. It also verified the excellent
performance of the treatment process and delivery of safe drinking water to this local community.

Next Evaluation Stage

Based on the preliminary results of the initial investigation it was decided to conduct further testing of 2nd
Generation ATP for potential correlation between lab results and ATP results. The initial testing was conducted
with the QGA ATP test kit but for this next evaluation stage Differential Quench Gone Organic (dQGO-M) was
utilized. The dQGO-M method leverages the size fractionation and uses a larger-porosity (5μm) dQGO-M filter to
capture large cells, such as blue-green algae, but allow other smaller bacteria to pass through. An additional
dispersant reagent is also included to break up clumps of small cells that would otherwise be retained on the
filter. In this modified protocol, the sample is pre-treated with the dispersant in order to break up
microbiological flocs, and then this pre-treated sample is passed through the dQGO-M filter. The result is a
measurement of Cellular ATP (cATP™) resulting from larger cells (e.g. fungi, algae, protozoa).

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Application Note| Monitoring a Harmful Algae Bloom using ATP | February 2019

Samples were collected, and serial dilutions performed. These samples were then sent to the lab for results and
split sampling testing was also performed with the LuminUltra dQGO-M test kit. Tests were performed and
categorized in accordance with the dominant algae species. Results are shown in Figure 1.
1.0E+06
1.0E+05
1.0E+04 R² = 0.9066
cATP—pg/mL

1.0E+03
1.0E+02
1.0E+01
1.0E+00
1.0E-01
1.0E-03 1.0E-02 1.0E-01 1.0E+00 1.0E+01 1.0E+02 1.0E+03 1.0E+04
Total Algae Biovolume—mm3/L
Chrysosporum ovalisporum Dolichospermum sp.
Microcystis flos-aquae Microcystis sp.

Figure 1: Serial dilution cATP and total algae biovolume (determined by phase-contrast microscopy)
measurements for four dominate blue-green algae (indicated in legend)

Key Findings
A strong correlation is observed between total algae biovolume and 2nd Generation ATP dQGO-M results. Some
variation in the correlation factors is also observed based on the dominant species. Further testing and data
would be recommended to provide a concrete correlation. Users would be encouraged to perform their own
tests to establish correlation on the above conclusions and their own site-specific environments.
Combined with the 2nd Generation QGA test kit, water treatment operators can assess microbial load and
efficacy of each of the critical control points throughout their water treatment process and distribution network.
Efficacy and subsequent troubleshooting of problems in the water treatment process can be identified rapidly to
instigate rapid mitigation and confirmation.
LuminUltra’s 2nd Generation ATP solutions are portable and rapid allowing the water utility to utilize a single
equipment set to cover all their sites and obtain meaningful results in minutes. The speed of response
accompanied with the validation testing provides a tool for immediate response and optimization of the water
treatment plant process to ensure delivery of safe drinking water to their communities and customers.

Economic Analysis and Conclusions

Harmful algae blooms can have a devastating economic impact. The 2016 Murray River algae bloom had an
estimated loss of $250 million AUD ($175 million USD), which included loss of water for drinking, recreation,
agriculture and fishing. Similar impacts have been estimated globally.

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Application Note| Monitoring a Harmful Algae Bloom using ATP | February 2019

Preventing harmful algae blooms requires a multifaceted approach. The Murray Darling Basin Commission has a
long-term management strategy that includes reduction in point source nutrients, repair and protect riparian
zones and upstream reservoir management. Monitoring is an important consideration for any management
strategy to understand when and where blooms are occurring and to assess the effectiveness of mitigation
strategies. LuminUltra’s 2nd Generation ATP is a great option to include in a comprehensive monitoring strategy
as it reduces the feedback loop between measurement and action from days to hours.
During the 2016 Murray River bloom, samples were taken from 152 sites on a weekly basis (>1500 samples). The
cost of dQGO-M ATP tests for this monitoring plan is approximately $30,000 AUD ($21,000 USD). Traditional
microscopy methods take approximately 4 days, so by using ATP, Red Alerts can be detected earlier, resulting in
public health savings associated with illness reduction, and cleared earlier, allowing businesses to return to
normalcy. Even a 1% reduction in the overall economic cost of an algae bloom would result in a >80x return-on-
investment for implementing rapid ATP testing.

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