How Surface Wastewater Aeration Treatment Helps To Reduce Harmful Algal Blooms

Surface wastewater aeration treatment is a process that involves introducing oxygen into bodies of water to improve their quality. One of the many benefits of this treatment is that it can help to reduce harmful algal blooms, which are thought to have increased significantly in number and intensity in recent years due to climate change. 

What Are Harmful Algal Blooms?

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are occurrences of dense populations of algae that can release toxins harmful to humans, animals, and marine life. These blooms can result in a range of negative impacts, including fish kills, economic losses, and public health risks. Dogs, wildlife, livestock, and other animals that tend to drink from natural water sources have experienced severe consequences, including serious illness and death, as the result of drinking water that contains a common type of harmful algae known as cyanobacteria — informally known as blue-green algae — that blooms in freshwater lakes, rivers, creeks, and ponds when conditions are favorable. 

What Causes Harmful Algal Blooms?

Harmful algal blooms are caused by a combination of factors, including nutrient pollution, high temperatures, and calm water conditions. Nutrient pollution, particularly from sources such as agricultural runoff and wastewater discharge, can increase the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus in the water, which fuels the growth of algae.

How Does Surface Wastewater Aeration Treatment Help Reduce Harmful Algal Blooms?

Surface wastewater aeration treatment can help to reduce harmful algal blooms in several ways:

Promotes Oxygenation

One of the main ways that surface wastewater aeration treatment can reduce harmful algal blooms is by promoting oxygenation in the water. Aeration introduces oxygen into the water, which can help to support the growth of beneficial bacteria that can consume excess nutrients and organic matter. This can help to prevent the buildup of harmful algal blooms.

Increases Mixing

Surface wastewater aeration treatment can also increase mixing in the water, which can help to disrupt the conditions that are favorable for harmful algal blooms. By increasing mixing, aeration can help to distribute nutrients and prevent the buildup of stratified layers of water that can support the growth of algae.

Enhances Treatment Processes

Surface wastewater aeration treatment can also enhance the effectiveness of other treatment processes, such as biological nutrient removal. By introducing oxygen into the water, aeration can promote the growth of beneficial bacteria that can remove excess nutrients and organic matter, reducing the potential for harmful algal blooms.

For more info about surface wastewater aerator treatment, contact a local company.