Leading Dutch consortium combats algae in US

Blue-green algae found in surface water is a big problem forOp bezoek bij Akron Water Supply governments and water companies. When this algae dies, Microcystin is released; for humans this is a highly toxic substance that can cause various diseases, including liver cancer. Knowing that Dutch water technology companies can offer solutions for these threats, ‘The US Algal Toxin Conference ” has been organized in Akron, Ohio from 28 to 30 April by the Akron Global Water Alliance (Ohio) in collaboration with Water Alliance (NL). Subsequently the Water Alliance organized the “Water Square” on 1st May this year in Akron (USA); a closed meeting, where technology and knowledge were brought together to tackle a concrete problem. The result: the case-owner – the company Akron Water Supply – wants the Dutch companies BlueLeg Monitor, Deltares, Arcadis to start before the summer to see how monitoring and combatting toxic algae can be done.

The problem of Blue-green algae existed long ago, but it is a remarkable event in the summer of 2014 that the problem really came onto the agenda of city governments and water companies. On August 1, 2014 the American city of Toledo (Ohio) on the shore of Lake Erie was affected by extreme algae growth. The water authorities saw control charts for the algae spread so alarmingly that they could do nothing else than directly advise the population not to use tap water. For example, a conglomerate with about 500,000 inhabitants was shut down for several days and that became big national news. For the Americans it was clear from this point onwards: the problem of Blue-green algae (known as cyanobacteria) was crying out for a solution.

Risk
The algae threat is felt everywhere in the US, but with even greater emphasis inThe americans and the Dutch, at Akron Water Supply the states bordering the Great Lakes, between the US and Canada. Many of the two hundred visitors to ‘the US Algal Toxin Conference’ also came from this area. After two days of intensive knowledge exchange it could be concluded that there are plenty of solutions or semi-solutions offered by the market, but there is no consensus on one ultimate solution. Much is still unclear, there is a crying need for more data, but it is clear that the problem does not go away by itself. Or, as Mike Baker, Chief Division of Drinking and Ground Waters, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in his presentation at the conference summarized: “Cyanobacteria are still in the water of Ohio and they form an explicit risk.”

Water Square
A risk perhaps but there are also solutions. Therefore, the Water Alliance organized following the convention in Akron (Ohio) for the first time on American soil one of its “Water Squares”. Business Development Manager Alex Berhitu: “Water Square is an already proven concept of the Water Alliance in the Netherlands. Based on a concrete problem from one or more parties a select group of scientists and entrepreneurs are invited who are expected to help in seeking out a solution. The parties will exchange, in the space of several hours, thoughts and try to forge a cooperation plan. ”

The result of the “Water Square USA ‘is that the company Akron Water Supply – wants the Dutch companies BlueLeg Monitor, Deltares, Arcadis to start before the summer, to see how monitoring and combatting toxic algae can be done. “Toxic algae are a serious threat, even in the lakes where we draw our water,” said manager Jeff Bronowski. “We are really impressed by the knowledge and the methods offered by the Dutch. We do a lot of monitoring ourselves, but we want to see how it could be done better and more efficiently. We have highly qualified people within our organisation and it takes them a lot of time to gather samples. BlueLeg Monitor’s equipment for example, would be easier to monitor and faster, so our people can spend more time actually analysing data. We want to look seriously at the methodology of scientist Hans Matthijs of the University of Amsterdam in cooperation with Arcadis who offers to fight algae with low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. Within Arcadis we already have good contacts. Possibly the Dutch solutions in combination can help us together to make progress. ”

Threat
Entrepreneur Hans Wouters from BlueLeg Monitor is pleased with the recognition, though he realizes that there is, as yet, no contract signed. “That is not necessary immediately. All parties sat at the table were all convinced that you only come to customized solutions when you just get started and sweep into action. But you do not want to make mistakes and need to take into account their wishes and possibilities. So we are working in small steps. ”

Also Miguel Dionisio from Deltares is impressed by the steps that they have taken during the Water Square. “Conferences and exhibitions are very good to meet people and share knowledge. But here we have zoomed in on a very specific problem, in this case the city of Akron and we have gone into much more depth. We now know pretty well what we have together. I am very enthusiastic about this approach. ”

It is clear what needs to happen but precisely on what scale the monitoring and control of toxic algae in Akron will be handled exactly is still unknown and ultimately remains to be answered. “As the summer approaches and the threat through the warming of the water increases, we do want to create some momentum,” says entrepreneur Wouters. “The people of Akron have asked us to put a plan on paper. We’re going to do that in the coming weeks.”

Water Alliance Managing Director Hein Molenkamp: “Altogether we can reflect, like our Dutch partner companies, on a very successful WaterSquare session in America. It’s nice to be so busy with a concrete need and help mediate and leave them wanting more. ”

Akron
Akron is located in northern Ohio, about a hundred kilometres from Lake Erie. The creation of giants like Goodyear and Firestone gave the city the label of “rubber capital of the world.” Today, Akron is known as a city of water technology.

Algae
Blue-green algae – also known as cyanobacteria – now form the largest
problem in the production of safe drinking water. The underlying cause is complex. Among other reasons, over-fertilization of agriculture causes too much phosphorus and nitrates in the water. This encourages growth of the harmful algae. However, recent research also points towards climate change and invasive species, which work hand in hand with algae bloom. Especially the impact made by heavy rainfall in the spring and early summer, provides more nutrients to the lakes by streams and rivers at a crucial time for algae growth.