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7807

Ecology and Management of Cyanotoxin Producing Blue-Green Algae in the Raw Water of Potable Water Supplies

3.0

Drinking Water

American Water Works Association - PA Section

Melanie Greene

melanie@paawwa.org

717-774-8870 Ext.

Partner Website

Course Description: Since August of 2014 when massive blue-green algal blooms in the western end of Lake Erie resulted in cyanotoxins entering municipal water supplies impacting the potable water for half a million people, Federal and State agencies have made a conscious effort to address potential health-related impacts associated with cyanotoxins. This Course will provide participants with information on the ecology and adaptive strategies of blue-green algae and the current regulatory status of cyanotoxins. The Course will also review in-reservoir and watershed-based management strategies that can be implemented to avoid, or at least minimize, the development of cyanotoxin-producing blue-green algae.

Intermediate

Additional course content: The Course will feature a set of three lectures on the ecology and management of cyanotoxin-producing blue-green algae in the raw sources of potable water supplies: 1. The first lecture will discuss the general ecology of blue-green algae, which covers their adaptive strategies in maximizing their growth in lakes and rivers as well as review some of the more problematic genera. 2. The second lecture will discuss cyanotoxins, the existing draft regulations associated with some of these compounds, how they can be measured in the field and laboratory and how to interpret and utilize cyanotoxin data. 3. The third lecture will discuss both in-reservoir and watershed-based management techinques that can be Statementimplemented to avoid, or at least minimize, the impacts of cyanotoxins.

Target audience: Managers and operators of public and private potable water supplies that routinely, or have the potential to, expereince nuisance blue-green algal blooms in raw, surface waters.

Classroom