1. Algae, Algal Toxins, and Treatment: A Cure for Bad HABits!
Scott M. Alpert, PhD, PE
NC AWWA‐WEA 2015 Annual Conference Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, NC, November 15 – 18, 2015

2. Outline Introduction USEPA Response
Algae Issues
Water Quality Variability: Turbidity, pH, DO
HABs, Algal Toxins, and Taste and Odor
Latest Driver: Algal events in Ohio
USEPA Response
June 17th – Health Advisories released for Microcystins and Cylindrospermopsin
Understanding the “non-regulations”
A Holistic Approach to Cyanotoxin Management
Monitoring, Management, Treatment

3. Introduction

4. What is Algae?
Found in the fossil record dating back to approximately 3 billion years ago
Large and diverse group that can occur in most habitats
Photosynthetic
Eukaryotic
Vary from small, single-celled forms to complex multicellular forms
Diatoms, Stoneworts, Green Algae, Golden Algae, Dinoflagellates, Brown Algae, Red Algae

5. Algae Issues
Seasonal algae blooms present many problems for water utilities
Dissolved Oxygen
pH, Turbidity
Taste and Odor
Cyanobacteria
“Blue-green algae”
Not quite algae, not quite bacteria
Photosynthetic but lack well-defined nucleus
Responsible for Taste and Odor compounds
Create and may release toxins = Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB)

6. pH Signature in an Algal Bloom

7. DO Variability in a Bloom

8. Chlorophyll (proving it’s a bloom)

9. Cyanotoxins (Algal Toxins)
Some blue-green can produce one or more toxins
Do not produce toxins at all times
Toxins can affect:
Fish and other aquatic life
Livestock
Pets
Humans
Exposure routes in humans
Dermal
Oral (water or food)
Inhalation
Dialysis
World Health Organization (WHO) has set a chronic exposure guideline of 1 mg/L.
Produce toxins during genetic strain, growth phase, competition, environmental conditions

10. Main Cyanotoxins of Concern
Microcystins
Cylindrospermopsin
Anatoxin-A
Saxitoxin

11. Cyanotoxins & T&O From Multiple Sources
Species
Dermatoxin (Irritant)
Hepatoxin
(Liver)
Neurotoxin (Nervous)
Taste/Odor Compound
Aphanacapsa spp.
microcystins
Microcystis spp.
microcystins, nodularin
anatoxins
Snowella spp.
Synechococcus spp.
MIB, Geosmin
Woronichinia spp.
Lyngbya spp.
Lyngbyatoxins
saxitoxins
MIB
Oscillatoria spp.
Aplysiatoxins
anatoxins, saxitoxins
Planktothrix agardhii
Pseudoanabaena spp.
Anabaena spp.
microcystins, cylindrospermopsin
Anabaenopsis elenkii
Aphanizomenon spp.
Geosmin
Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii
cylindrospermopsin
Nordularia spp.
Tedesco et al, 2011

12. Microcystin-LR (ug/L) Cylindrospermopsin (ug/L)
State/ Agency
Microcystin-LR (ug/L)
Anatoxin-A (ug/L)
Cylindrospermopsin (ug/L)
Saxitoxin (ug/L)
US EPA (2015) Children < 6 years old
0.3
None
0.7
US EPA (2015) All other age groups
1.6
3.0
Ohio 1 20
0.2
Oregon 3
Minnesota
0.04*
Quebec
1.5
3.7
Health Canada
World Health Organization (WHO)
Regulations
EPA has determined cyanotoxin levels in tap water that are “protective of human health” and recently issued Health Advisories Levels for public drinking water supplies
* To protect short-term exposure for bottle-fed infants

13. Potential Link Between Cyanotoxins and Taste and Odor
USGS 2010 study (ES&T 44, 7361 – 7368)
Sampled 23 Midwest lakes
Multiple toxin classes co- occurred in 48%
Toxins and T&O co-occurred in 91%
But T&O presence does not necessarily equate to cyanotoxin presence, and vice-versa!

14. EPA Reaction to Toledo, 2014
Health Advisories and Guidance

15. Plant shutdown for multiple days!
Toledo: 2014
Raw Microcystin ~ 20ppb
Raw Microcystin 5-10ppb
Plant shutdown for multiple days!

16. June 17th, 2015
EPA publically releases “Health Advisory Levels” and “Potential Preparation and Response” Actions
data/guidelines-and-recommendations#more

17. Health Advisory (HA) Levels
EPA underwent rigorous process to evaluate and determine Health Advisory Levels for Microcystins and Cylindrospermopsin
Health Advisories =
Informal non-regulatory guidance for unregulated drinking water contaminants to assist federal, state and local officials, and public water systems in protecting public health

18. 10-day HAs for Microcystin and Cylindrospermopsin: Concentration in drinking water at or below which no adverse non-carcinogenic effects are expected for a ten-day exposure
Microcystin

19. Holistic Approach to Algae Concerns:
Monitoring, Management, Treatment

20. Cyanotoxins Add a New Wrinkle to an Old Issue
Many utilities already possess a strong understanding of algae issues in their system
However, given the uncertainty of the EPA Health Advisories and Guidance, many are now concerned about cyanotoxins
Monitoring, Management, Treatment
Do I need to sample for cyanotoxins?
How do I sample for them?
When and where do I sample?
What do I need to do if I detect cyanotoxins?

21. Algae is a whole system issue, with opportunities for success
2) Cyanobacteria Blooms
1) Nutrients and Algae Promoting Conditions
3) Cyanotoxins/T&O in the Water Treatment Plant
4) Health Advisories, T&O complaints
B) Limit Extent of Cyanobacteria Blooms
C) Treatment of toxins and T&O
A) Reduce Algae Promoting Conditions

22. System Specific Evaluation
Is your source water vulnerable? If so, when (seasonal, year-round)? What is the status of your algae monitoring and management program?
Summary of Factors Leading to Algal Blooms
Guidelines for Understanding Potential for Algal Growth
Key to Step 1 is to understand if you are likely to see algae in your source
Tables from Hazen Algae White Paper (Summer, 2015)

23. Monitoring EPA Advice:
Monitor for cyanotoxins in raw water and be prepared to make treatment changes
If found in raw, monitor in finished as well
A Few Questions:
How to monitor?
pH, DO, chlorophyll, phycocyanin, MIB, geosmin, FPA, microcystins, ELISA, HPLC/MS/MS
Where/when to monitor?
How to confirm results?
What do detections mean / communication of results?

24. Preparation for Monitoring and Management
Develop SOPs for when and where to monitor
Will I sample in raw only? If I detect in raw, will I sample in plant? Finished?
Base on historical algae information where available (T&O, algae management protocols)
Identify laboratories for algae enumeration and cyanotoxin detection (or self-perform)
Develop “Confirmation” and “Communication” plans, i.e.,
Confirm a positive ELISA kit with an LC/MS/MS analysis
Assess when to alert state primacy agency, public

25. Monitoring Options
Graham et al, 2010

26. http://www. hazenandsawyer

27. When and Where to Monitor: Tiered and Triggered Approach

28. Management and Treatment
Algae Management is not new!
Keep the old strategies, tweak with some new information
What is the goal of management and/or treatment?

29. Algae Management A whole system approach is best
Reduce nutrients in reservoir, improve water quality, reduce algae issues
Hazen and Sawyer White Paper, 2015

30. Treatment Strategies
Table 6 and Table 7 from Hazen Algae White Paper (Summer, 2015)

31. Treatment Strategies
Oxidative treatment effective for extracellular toxins
Oxidative treatments can also lyse cells to release toxins
Need to ensure either cells removed before oxidation -or- oxidize long enough to release toxins and oxidize toxins.
Table 6 and Table 7 from Hazen Algae White Paper (Summer, 2015)

32. How Flexible/Capable is Your Existing Treatment Process?
Available for download at AWWA.org

33. How the Model Works Select Cyanotoxin of interest from drop down list:
Anatoxin-A, Microcystin- LR, Cylindrospermopsin, Microcystin-Mix
Input system parameters
Input initial cyanotoxin concentration
Select final target endpoint
Select oxidant of use
Free chlorine, ozone, permanganate, monochloramine, chlorine dioxide
Select model type

34. Model Outputs
Results are based on oxidant decay model and CT or oxidant dose and demand information

35. Communication
Communication plans need to be set up in the case of finished water “hits”:
Alerting appropriate utility staff
Alerting state primacy agency
Alerting public (if required)
The cyanotoxin issue is out in the public view, so being prepared has merit.
EPA document focuses on how to communicate levels above HA

36. Summary
HABs and cyanotoxins have been big news in recent years, even though they are an old issue
Delay won’t make go away – EPA instructed to develop plan by November!!! (and UCMR4 is on horizon!)
The issue is a solvable one with a holistic, measured, and proactive approach for Monitoring, Management, and Treatment
Understand Your Source (Is algae even an issue?)
Understand Your Treatment Process for Water Quality, Algae, and Cyanotoxin Management
Public Communication

37. EPA website for algal toxins EPA Cyanotoxin Management Document
Useful Resources
EPA website for algal toxins
EPA Cyanotoxin Management Document
drinking-water.pdf
Ohio EPA White Paper
WaterRF Utility Manager’s Guide
Hazen-Adams Cyanotoxin Oxidation Calculator

38. Questions??? Scott M. Alpert, PhD, PE salpert@hazenandsawyer.com
Acknowledgements:
Hazen and Sawyer’s Bret Casey, P.E.; Erik Rosenfeldt, Ph.D., P.E.; and Ben Stanford, PhD