Harmful algal blooms: The what, why and how of implementing a risk based monitoring strategy.
Jessica Campbell, Wendy KrKosek (Halifax Water)

The combined effects of climate change and lake recovery has increased the importance for utilities to be prepared for situations dealing with cyanobacteria, their toxins, and metabolites as the frequency of harmful algal blooms continue to rise.

Cyanobacteria blooms themselves can cause filter clogging and process related challenges and they can produce harmful toxins as well as nuisance taste and odor compounds that require robust monitoring plans to ensure safe drinking water. Halifax Water has developed and implemented a risk-based algal monitoring program based on industry best-practices and will discuss the approach, challenges, and lessons learned.

In addition to a long-term comprehensive source water protection plan, Halifax Wateres algal monitoring plan includes the use of many different tools including, fluorescence technology, remote monitoring sensing equipment, qPCR, rapid immunochromatographic strip tests, and automated microscopy. The use of these different tools provides real-time results to assess risk, respond, and adapt when source water changes arise.