Algae formation in water treatment process

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I operate a ​water treatment ​plant for ​drinking water. ​
We use ​Birm® as a ​medium for the ​reduction of ​dissolved iron ​and manganese ​compounds from ​well water, ​followed by a ​sand and ​finally a ​carbon filter. ​

Our problem it ​that we ​have lots of ​algae in the ​product tank. ​

How do I stop ​the algae from ​forming? ​
Which ​substances and ​treatment ​methods do you ​use and what ​are your ​experiences? ​

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56 Answers

Fine and ultrafine bubble ...

Fine and ultrafine bubble generation from my experience in algal management in Asia and Australia. Algae count can be reduced from 1.5 million to

Published by Andrew Tran, Engineer

Sir, Please opt a suitable ...

Sir,

Please opt a suitable disinfection H2O2 or Chlorination etc in pre- treatment section.  

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We have a product to grow ...

We have a product to grow Diatom Algae. Diatoms are beneficial algae, the algae that is growing in your tanks at present is perhaps Cyanobacteria / Blue Green Algae, this is harmful. 

Growing Diatoms will be useful for you, the nutrients in the water will be consumed and the oxygen produced by the Diatoms will keep the water clean. 

Growing one type of algae to solve problems caused by another type of algae may sound odd, but the fact is that Diatoms are good algae and Cyano are bad algae.  

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We have a machine that ...

We have a machine that creates Ultra Fine Bubble technology we infuse Billions of microscopic bubbles into the water killing algae naturally without chemicals. www.gaiawater.com 

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We manufacture Floating ...

We manufacture Floating Treatment Wetlands (FTW). They can be moved & secured. If you remove Sunlight (light source/energy source), it will (in most cases) be eliminated. FTW roots are in the water column with microbial activity going crazy (party time!). Predominantly reduces (or eliminates) Nitrogen TN & Phosphorus TP (+ more).

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Keep a record of your ...

Keep a record of your Nitrogen content in your water.  We have been able to reduce, in fact eliminate Nitrogen with a series of all natural Microbes which also lower BOD, Phosphorus, any odors and reduces any TSS and Sludge. 

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1. Algae grow because of ...

1. Algae grow because of photosynthesis.  Use completely opaque storage tank

2. Chlorine stops algae

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Installing a ultrasound unit ...

Installing a ultrasound unit in the tank will keep away the biofilm and the algae.

See www.ultrasoundinfo.nl 

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We have a system that ...

We have a system that generates Nano bubble technology for oxygenation purposes. The high O2 will bind the iron particles allowing your filters to trap the iron. The high O2 will kill bacteria in the well water allowing for a clean fresh taste free from pathogens . www.gaiawater.com . The high O2 levels suffocate the algae and kills it naturally. We have done many ponds and lakes with great success. 

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We have a system that ...

We have a system that generates Nano bubble technology for oxygenation purposes. The high O2 will bind the iron particles allowing your filters to trap the iron. The high O2 will kill bacteria in the well water allowing for a clean fresh taste free from pathogens . www.gaiawater.com 

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Algae is a plant. If you want ...

Algae is a plant. If you want to stop the initial formation you can try to control the content of N and P.  If you want to just gather the algae that is created you can try bottom aeration and surface collection. Either wise just lower the Ph of water up to 5 in one tank and increase it to normal levels at a second tank.

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Algae est un végétal, elle est donc -biologique-. Toute réaction naturelle exécive du vivant correspond à un déséquilibre -biologique-

il faut peut être revoir les paramètres -biologique- du milieu et rééquilibrer le système avant de faire toute autre action qui créerait encore plus de dysfonctionnement -biologique-

Algae are the order of the living on Earth, it's - organic-. All reactions natural living execives shows an imbalance - biological-

There may be review settings - biological environment in order to perform a rebalancing of the system before performing any other action that would create even more dysfunction - biological-

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an ultrasound unit in the ...

an ultrasound unit in the tank will solve your problem. www.ultrasoudinfo.nl

Kees Luykx

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Hint the electricity of the ...

Hint the electricity of the micro current.

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The conclusion is impossible ...

The conclusion is impossible with your knowledge.Think about purchasing a new crisis to resolve the cause.You are a manager.The description includes content that violates confidentiality obligation.So even if you answer, it is difficult to provide a description.

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The conclusion is impossible ...

The conclusion is impossible with your knowledge.Think about purchasing a new crisis to resolve the cause.You are a manager.The description includes content that violates confidentiality obligation.So even if you answer, it is difficult to provide a description.

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Rereading my post, the ...

Rereading my post, the ultrasonic biofilm control project was in Port Orange, Florida, not Orange, Florida.

Ultrasound causes vibrations in the water that to anaerobic bacteria are similar to the sensation of turbulent water.  They are genetically disposed to not colonize turbulent water zones, because they must emit a chemical to attract the aerobic bacteria that make up the thicker portion of the biofilm layer (80%) over the base layer of anaerobic bacteria.  This cannot be done in turbulent water as the chemical is rapidly swept away.

Many times algae will use the biofilm matrix for either attachment or for nutrients.

For algae, ultrasound will damage green algae and diatoms using critical structural resonance to cause the inner cell wall (plasmalemma) to physically tear away from a pump (contractile vacuole) thus preventing proper fluid flow in the cell that kills it.  This can kill attached algae in about 3-4 weeks.

In a tank, the ultrasonic effect on blue-green algae is less effective due to these algae passing through the tank quickly.  It takes 3-4 days for blue-green algae to completely lose their buoyancy from the effect of ultrasound that crushes the internal gas vesicle walls (only a protein layer thick) and releases the gas into the cell where it slowly diffuses through the outer wall that is not make to hold it.  For blue-green algae, the control is best done in a holding reservoir that will allow these algae to sink and slowly die from lack of light at the reservoir bottom.

George Hutchinson, President, AlgaeControl.US LLC

george@algaecontrol.uswww.algaecontrol.us

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It is the minimum ...

It is the minimum construction method for drinking.Heat treatment is necessary to suppress algae because microorganisms can not be suppressed.If it is an elementary school investment, solar heat, if it is expensive investment gas facilities are necessary.

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If you are getting algal ...

If you are getting algal growth in finished water, it is either because you are not removing all of cells in the treatment process, or it is being reseeded after treatment, somehow (e.g. open tank?). If they are not all being removed by treatment you should improve filtration. Standard treatment for a bloom problem is conventional coagulation, sedimentation, filtration treatment plus permanganate and powdered activated carbon to remove the algal toxins, if they are present in excess.  If you have significant and regular algal growth in the source water, you should filter in teh treatment plant to remove cells before adding a disinfectant, because that will lyse the algal cells and release toxins into the water, if they are being formed. Also, if you are having blooms you should check to see if toxins are being produced. Also, you should try to restrict nitrogen and phosphorous entry to the source water to reduce the growth. There are ELISA methods and LC/MS methods of analysis for toxins.  They are not always present. Also, if you have algal growth it is usually noticed by taste from isoborneol and geosmin. The WHO long term (years to lifetime)  Guideline for Drinking Water Quality is 1 ppb. The Australian short term (couple of weeks) guideline is 13 ppb, and it is based upon the same study that WHO used for long term and using a modified calculation for short term exposure. The equivalent WHO value would probably be 10 ppb.  WHO is working on a short term guideline.

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Algae will not grow without ...

Algae will not grow without sunlight! Have we heard of photosynthesis!!

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Algae will not grow without ...

Algae will not grow without nutrients, covering your tank will hide your problem but you still have elements should not be existing in the product. I advise to find out a system for nutrients removal followed by proper disinfection.  

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