EFFECTS OF HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM (HAB) TO WATER QUALITY, Cheat Sheet of Environmental Science

Download EFFECTS OF HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM (HAB) TO WATER QUALITY and more Cheat Sheet Environmental Science in PDF only on Docsity! EFFECTS OF HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM (HAB) TO WATER QUALITY When toxin-producing algae develop rapidly in a body of water, a harmful algal bloom (HAB) happens. Algae are microscopic organisms living in aquatic ecosystems that, much like plants, use photosynthesis to obtain energy from sunlight. Depending on the form of algae, the excessive algal growth, or algal bloom, becomes visible to the naked eye and may be green, blue-green, red or brown. In natural bodies of water, such as oceans, lakes and rivers, algae are still present, but only a few forms can produce toxins. In these algae, environmental factors such as light, temperature, and nutrient levels may stimulate toxin development. It can seriously damage humans, livestock, fish and other parts of the environment if algal toxins are released into the surrounding water or air. One of the causes of algal bloom is runoff of nutrients. The presence of significant quantities of nitrogen and phosphorus found in water is often causes algal bloom. These nutrients are washed away from land and farms that are heavily riddled with fertilizers that are nitrogenous and phosphatic. By the washing of these leachable nutrients from the soil into water bodies such as rivers and streams, which ultimately end up in large reservoirs such as lakes and oceans, rain acts as an agent for that occurence. Via irrigation systems, these nutrients are often released into waterways. Untreated wastewater makes its way into water bodies due to inadequate sewage treatment, and it causes algal bloom through a process called eutrophication because it is high in nitrogen compounds such as nitrates and ammonia. Water pollution, especially the discharge into waterways of poorly handled or untreated industrial waste, contributes to the release of raw toxic waste into the waterways. The effect is the dense growth of algae since it includes nutrients and compounds such as nitrogen, lead, and phosphorus. The depletion of the ozone layer caused by global warming is also one of the key reasons why algal bloom thrives at a rapid pace. Conducive temperature is needed to survive both in and out of water for some bacteria. The exceptionally high global warming temperatures have contributed to the rapid decomposition of nutrients such as nitrates and ammonia, which are easier for bacteria to use and expand in quantity. In general, there are several forms of bacteria found in the atmosphere and water. They are all in search of sufficient growth and nutrition media. The algae bacterium, like other bacteria, is thus facilitated by the presence of dead organisms in the water. The dead organic matter ends up propagating the growth of algae in the water, along with the nutrients present in the water, contributing to the flowering of algae. Large masses of water are aslo required for algal blooms, which are almost yet to flourish. Most blue-green algae prefer stable, low-flow water conditions such as water in lake and resevoir, long retention periods, light winds and limited turbulence while others prefer mixing conditions and turbid environments. In such waters, there are less disruptions in their proliferation, and this explains their restricted growth with a high flow rate in rivers and streams. When populations of blue-green algae are exposed to long periods of high light intensity, they are reduced but have maximum growth when exposed to high light intensity intermittently. Under the water surface, where the light atmosphere is fluctuating, these conditions prevail. Also in low-light conditions or in turbid water, blue-green algae have higher growth rates than any other group of algae. This ability to adapt to variable light conditions offers a competitive advantage for cyanobacteria over other algal species. In the water column, turbidity is caused by the presence of suspended particles and organic matter. High turbidity happens when a lot of water is running through the system. Low turbidity happens when the water column only has a small amount of suspended matter present. Low turbidity, which causes suspended particles to settle out of the water column, may be caused by slow-moving or stagnant water. More light may penetrate through the water column when turbidity is low, and optimal conditions are produced for algal growth. In exchange, a turbid atmosphere is created by rising algae A variety of harmful effects on the ecosystem and its inhabitants can be caused by the emergence of algal blooms. From tissue degradation and disease, to death amount to $77 million a year to resolve the harm. These costs include a reduction in the value of waterfront homes, a decrease in the leisure and amenity value of water bodies, and the cost of drinking water treatment for the elimination of algal toxins. All these examples highlight the costs and challenges faced by water treatment plants in order to control HABs. Due to the nature of algae, cyanotoxin problems usually arise during the night making it often difficult and costly to react immediately. Therefore, it is less expensive for utilities to prepare accordingly. In order to prevent this algal bloom problems from occur in the future, the root cause of the problem itself is what really needs to be addressed which is to minimize the presence of nitrogen and phosphorus in water, the prescribed waste management process, the five-step process that ensures optimum treatment, includes the treatment of sewage water. In order to avoid feeding major water bodies such as rivers, lakes, seas, and streams with unnecessary nutrients, disinfection and tertiary treatment to eliminate components such as nitrogen and phosphorus via processes such as nitrification and the subsequent treatment of sludge are mandatory. Processes for quality water management often ensure that people drink clean water and above all, protect marine life. Another method is to reduce pollution and water wastage on personal level. It must start with individual efforts by minimizing waste, recycle and reuse to save the world in order to achieve the global environmental protection targets of minimal pollution. It will work to minimize the total nutrient load in water bodies and also ease the water treatment process when this is done by all individuals at home, at work or in school. It will potentially help minimize the dense growth of algae in the water. In order to raise crop yields by supplying them with deficient nutrients, fertilizers must be used by farmers. However, by using options such as top dressing or spraying, depending on the nutrients to be administered, it can be achieved optimally. It is advisable for farmers to consult with agricultural experts on the form and quantity of fertilizer to be used. It can ensure optimum crop growth as well as controlled toxicity or nutrient concentration in the soil by using the most suitable methods and applying the right quantities of fertilizers. It would mean that only small amounts of contaminants are washed into rivers at the start of rain, minimizing the occurrence of algal blooming. Apply fertilizer only when necessary and at the prescribed level, except for lawn and garden maintenance. Do not apply fertilizer in an environment close to rivers or before windy or rainy days. Also, store unused fertilizer and correctly dispose of empty containers. Uses of hydrogen peroxide also helps in treating algal bloom for smaller water bodies, such as large ponds or small lakes, this is ideal for easy monitoring of the effect of the compound as well as aquatic life. Lastly is ultrasound boom treatment. In order to search for algal blooms and to monitor their growth if detected, this technology focuses on ultrasonic sound waves in water bodies, reducing algae growth by up to 90 percent. All of this is being checked and tested, but there is no risk to marine life as it is 100% environmentally friendly with the added bonus of low running costs. This treatment tracks large bodies of water and can assess whether or not the danger of algal bloom is present depending on the prevailing conditions. To overcome buoyancy, these waves are sent over the top layer of water bodies, causing them to sink and disable photosynthesis. Owing to the lack of light, the algae ultimately die. (1942 words) REFERENCES 1. Renault, M. (n.d.). What are algae blooms and why are they bad? Retrieved December 08, 2020, from https://www.popsci.com/algae-blooms-toxic- harmful-environment/ 2. Rinkesh. (2020, August 16). Causes, Effects and Solutions To Algal Bloom on Aquatic Ecosystems. Retrieved December 08, 2020, from https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-effects-solutions-algal- bloom.php 3. Algae on Water Supplies. (n.d.). Retrieved December 08, 2020, from https://www.freedrinkingwater.com/water_quality/quality2/j-3-08-algae- beneficial-effects-on-water-supplies-page2.htm 4. The algae bloom challenge to drinking water. (n.d.). Retrieved December 08, 2020, from https://www.space-o.eu/the-algae-bloom-challenge-to-drinking- water/ 5. Michael F. Chislock . (n.d.). Retrieved December 08, 2020, from https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/eutrophication-causes- consequences-and-controls-in-aquatic-102364466/ 6. Algal Blooms. (n.d.). Retrieved December 08, 2020, from https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/algal-blooms/index.cfm