Aquatic
FlowCam for Water Quality Monitoring and Drinking Water Analysis
Discover a high-throughput, automated alternative to manual microscopy.
FlowCam offers a cost-effective and rapid solution to monitor source water, oceans, reservoirs, lakes, rivers, and water treatment processes for drinking water, wastewater, and recreational activities.
Municipal water utilities monitor Cyanobacteria and other algae to prevent harmful algal blooms (HABs), taste and odor events, as well as filter clogging organisms.
Use FlowCam to:
- Analyze particles sizes 2 µm to 1 mm
- Identify, count, and measure phytoplankton
- Process a 1 mL sample in less than 6 minutes
- Perform image analysis to determine morphological parameters such as biovolume, coloration, shape, and size to classify taxa.
“My lab has been a FlowCam user since buying our unit back in 2013. It has served us well in monitoring of cyanobacterial blooms here in Alberta Canada, and reporting our results to provincial health advisory agencies in a timely manner. A very reliable instrument surprisingly requiring minimal maintenance!”
Monitor water quality by testing water samples for Cyanobacteria using FlowCam
A water sample analyzed on FlowCam, containing cyanotoxin and taste-and-odor producers: Microcystis, Dolichospermum (Anabaena), and Lyngbya
A freshwater harmful algal bloom. Regular monitoring with FlowCam allows for treatment while contamination levels are barely detectable.
FlowCam Cyano: for automatic differentiation of Cyanobacteria from other algae.
FlowCam for Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring
Classify Cyanobacteria and monitor both marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms (HABs). Differentiate and quantify organisms capable of producing cyanotoxins to enable early treatment of water sources.
FlowCam Cyano and FlowCam 8400 combine flow imaging microscopy with flow cytometry to differentiate Cyanobacteria from other aquatic organisms and detritus.
- Identify and enumerate HAB organisms, including Cyanobacteria, diatoms, dinoflagellates
- Forecast HAB events
- Count cells in colonies and filaments
- Analyze population dynamics
Additional Resources
Guides
- Ultimate Guide to Flow Imaging Microscopy for Aquatic Life Sciences
- FlowCam Guide to Freshwater Algae & Cyanobacteria
- FlowCam Aquatic Image Galleries
- How to Detect Nuisance Algae in Drinking Water Systems
Case Studies
- FlowCam Cyano Aids 7 Lakes Alliance's Stewardship of Maine’s Lands and Waters
- Monitoring for Taste & Odor Algae at Newport News Waterworks
- Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians Integrate FlowCam into Environmental Stewardship Programs
Application Notes
Articles
- Journal AWWA 'Flow Imaging Microscopy for Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring' April 2024
- Journal AWWA 'Proactive Management of Aesthetic Quality to Maintain Customer Confidence' October 2023
- Journal AWWA 'Water Quality Monitoring Using Particle Analysis' November 2023
- Notes from the Field: Visible and Quantifiable Evidence of a Harmful Algal Bloom at ASLO
Published Research
- FlowCam Bibliography
- Top FlowCam Studies on Cyanobacteria
- Summaries of Top Studies Comparing FlowCam to Light Microscopy
User Groups
Methodologies
- Estimating Cell Counts for Colonial and Filmentous Cyanobacteria
- Assessing Cell Viability Using FDA Stain
Videos
- Flow Imaging Microscopy for Aquatic Applications
- FlowCam Cyano Demonstration
- Webinar: Using Flow Imaging Microscopy to Build Phytoplankton & HAB Community Composition Profiles Impacting Water Supplies
Blog Posts
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