We recently hosted FlowCam customer Katharine McNaught of the PVWC to present a webinar on how she is using FlowCam to help monitor community composition in the drinking water they oversee. Katharine is developing a plankton baseline project to identify and count phytoplankton present seasonally at each site to understand their ecology and learn what trends can be observed to help anticipate blooms.
The Passaic Valley Water Commission (PVWC) in Totowa NJ, has been monitoring algae for the early detection and treatment of harmful algal blooms (HABs) since 2021. Their approach consists of a multi-faceted monitoring program including phytoplankton identification and enumeration using flow imaging microscopy (FlowCam), gene analysis by qPCR, and toxin analysis by ELISA. Implementation of this program will allow the agency to develop trigger levels (the point at which one genus may become problematic) for further testing and treatment
In this webinar, Katharine McNaught discusses the importance of phytoplankton monitoring as part of a comprehensive HAB monitoring program. She describes the impact of different organisms on the water system and treatment plant.
Community composition in PVWC source waters has been instrumental in helping determine not only cyanotoxin potential but also filter clogging and taste and odor algae production.
"Our program helps answer questions like: Can we observe cyanobacteria in the winter months? Should we anticipate an increase in taste and odor concerns in the fall? When do specific phytoplankton occur seasonally?" - Katharine McNaught
Some of the key takeaways from the webinar include:
- Cyanotoxins are not the only source of water quality problems. Common algae are more prevalent and just as likely to cause water quality issues and compromise treatment.
- Tracking phytoplankton provides insights into the ecological composition and health of your water supply, as well as potential water quality issues.
- FlowCam can improve the monitoring and identification of problematic algae by providing high-quality images.
- Watersheds and recreational sites can also benefit from similar tracking projects where cyanobacteria can impact human health and public access.
- It's always better to be proactive versus reactive. Any issues with water quality (cyanotoxin or not) can damage public trust.
