Management of Blue Green Algae and Taste and Odor with Cutrine-Plus in McDaniel Lake, Greene Co., Missouri

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Management of Blue Green Algae and Taste and Odor
with Cutrine-Plus in McDaniel Lake, Greene Co.,
Missouri

• Russell G. Rhodes
• Reynaldo J. Gumucio
• Kim A. Medley
• Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri
• City Utilities of Springfield, Springfield,
  MIssouri

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Study Site McDaniel Lake, Greene County,
Southwest Missouri

• Construction Impoundment of Little Sac River,
  1929
• Surface area 300 acres
• Volume 4066 acre-ft
• Max depth 30 ft
• Depth at bridge 20 ft
• Intake to Water treatment Plant at dam
• Production 16 MGD during summer peak demand
• Customer base
• 69,293 residential
• 7,325 commercial
• 178 industrial commercial
• 222,000 service area population
• Contribution 27 of domestic and commercial
  water to Springfield service area

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McDaniel Lake, Greene Co., Missouri
Summit St. Bridge
Low Water Bridge
Grant St. Bridge
Dam
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Pre 2003 Events

• 1982 Major event forcing need for water trucks
  and main flushing
• 1982-2002
• Reduction of P due to watershed control
• Increased clarity of water
• Continued presence of geosmin and MIB
• Continued customer complaints
• Evaluation of options to eliminate taste and odor
  events
• Continued proactive efforts to negate potential
  cyanotoxin events from HABs

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Goal for 2003 and BeyondZero Tolerance of
Geosmin, MIB and Cyanotoxins

• Continuation of watershed management practices
• Monitor incoming water to determine levels of
  nutrients
• Raise and lower surface water in upper reaches to
  reduce algal growth
• Securing of buffer zones through Natural
  Resources Conservation Service Grazing programs
• Investigate mechanical methods of nutrient
  modification in water column
• Implementation of chemical and biological control
  of algae focusing on blue-green algae to reduce
  and eliminate geosmin and MIB events
• Continued proactive efforts to insure no
  cyanotoxin events (none to date)

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Understanding the AlgaeBasic Colors (Natural
Groups)
Golden Browns
Blue-greens
Diatoms
Dinoflagellates
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Brief Synopsis of Blue Green Algae
Blue green due to phycocyanin and chlorophyll
Forms can be unicellular, colonial, or filamentous
Cells without nucleus, but can serve as spores and/or fix nitrogen and have gas vesicles
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Focus on Chemical Control of Blue Green Algae

• Implementation of program to selectively apply
  chemicals Cutrine-plus was selected as chemical
  of choice due to alkalinity of water
• Program selected from private companies who
  worked with City Utilities staff in developing
  implementation strategies
• Aquatic Control http//www.aquaticcontrol.com/cont
  actus/index.cfm
• Applied Biochemists http//www.appliedbiochemists.
  com
• Evaluation of targeted algae Algal Challenge
  Test
• Determination of concentrations and patterns of
  application of chemical in lake

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Applied science for targeted Algal Management
The Algal challenge

• Water Sample
• Grow Algae
• Challenge Algae
• Observe Response
• Specific Recommendation

Thanks to Applied Biochemists
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• New method for species-targeted management of
  tolerant algae and cyanobacteria with field
  evaluation of treatment results

• ID and characteristics of Common Species
• Treating the Algae and not the Water
• Integrated control methods and techniques
• Field results observations- pre and post
  treatment

Thanks to Applied Biochemists
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Monitoring of Algal Populations

• Collection for qualitative evaluation of
  phytoplankton at raw water intake
• 1 L filtered through fine mesh (10 u) plankton
• Subsurface collections of algae at four locations
  in lake by bottle samplers
• Samples were quantitatively evaluated using
  Sedgwick-Rafter counting chamber

http//el.erdc.usace.army.mil/zebra/zmis/zmishelp/
analyzing _plankton_tows_pumped_samples_and_shallo
w_water_samples.htm
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Raw Water Collection (left) and Qualitative and
Quantitative Microscopic Analysis (right)
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Trigger Points to Initiate Application of
Cutrine-plus

• Sample at region of propagation Sampling is
  done at four locations in lake, dam, Grant St.
  Bridge, Summit Street Bridge, Low Water Bridge
• Total phytoplankton and blue-green algae are
  counted in organisms/ml from subsurface composite
  samples taken weekly
• A trigger point has been selected at 3500-5000
  organisms/ml of blue-green algae
• Experience has shown that if counts go to 40,000
  and a cool front or excessive cloudy conditions
  occur, the cells lyze and presumably release
  geosmin and MIB

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Pattern of Application

• 1/3 of lake at any given application
• Application to 900 acre ft. just above
  thermocline
• Use of GPS for areas of application
• Timing of application dependent on algal density

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Application Concentration

• Annual application by Aquatic Control, a bonded
  and licensed company for dispersal of chemicals
  in lakes and reservoirs
• Concentration applied for 2003-present
• Two totes distributed per application
• 3 applications per year
• 1 tote equivalent of 275 gallons of Cutrine-plus,
  9 Cu
• One-third of the lake per application
• Use of depth finder and GPS for accurate
  application

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Application Mechanics

• Annual application (Aquatic Control)
• Dispersal of chemical from shore
• Boat outfitted for CU spot application

Tote 275 gal of Cutrine-plus (conc. 9 Cu)
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Results of Cutrine-plus Applications, 2003, 2004,
2005

• Reduction in total phytoplankton and specifically
  in blue green algal abundance
• Reduction of geosmin to below 1 ppt
• Reduction of MIB to below detectable level
• Reduction in customer complaints

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Fig. 1. Total phytoplankton and blue green
abundance by year. Each box represents 1st and
3rd quartiles and the line inside each box
represents the median. Whiskers represent one
standaard error, black dots represent the 5th and
95th percentiles.
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Fig. 2. Total phytoplankton and blue-green algae abundance before application of Cutrine-Plus (2000-2002) and after treatment began (2003-2005). A one-way ANOVA revealed both groups were significantly reduced after treatment began (total F 25.95, plt0.001 blue-green F 24.23, plt0.001). Boxes represent 1st and 3rd quartiles and the horizontal line represents the median value among three years of data. Whiskers represent one standard error. Dots represent 5th and 95th percentile.
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Fig. 3. Geosmin (left) and MIB (right) concentrations for each year. Boxes represent 1st and 3rd quartiles and the horizontal line represents the median value among three years of data. Whiskers represent one standard error. Dots represent 5th and 95th percentile. Blue-green algae abundances are provided at the bottom of each plot. Year labels are placed in the mid-point of each year.
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Fig. 4. Geosmin and MIB concentrations before application of Cutrine-Plus (2000-2002) and after treatment began (2003-2005). A Kruskal Wallis test revealed the concentration of both compounds was significantly reduced after treatment began (geosmin H11.43, p0.001 MIB H12.74, plt0.001). Boxes represent 1st and 3rd quartiles and the horizontal line represents the median value among three years of data. Whiskers represent one standard error.
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Fig. 5. Total number of phoned-in complaints
received annually during the six-year period.
Total complaints declined after the use of
Cutrine-Plus began.
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Residual Copper in Lake

• Data for 2006 Treatment occurred on June 16,
  2006.
• Generally it takes 1 week for concentration of Cu
  to reach below Missouri DNR permit given
  environmental events.
• After 10-12 days, level of Cu goes below Method
  Detection Limit

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Summary Pre- and Post Treatment

• Pre-treatment Data
• Phosphorus levels were reduced through best
  management practices and modifications of the
  upstream habitat
• After decline in mid 90s of phytoplankton and
  blue-green algae, an increase was seen in early
  2000-2002
• Taste and odor events continued through 2002

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Post 2003 Data

• Post treatment Data
• Water clarity increased.
• Both total phytoplankton and blue-green algae
  declined in abundance.
• Geosmin was significantly reduced. MIB declined
  starting with Cutrine-plus application and was
  not detectable in 2005 (also in 2006).
• Copper in the water remained below NPDES
  discharge limits following initial spike
• There was a marked reduction in customer
  complaints
• No fish kills occurred from 1982 to present
• No HABs nor cyanotoxin presence

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Post TreatmentCost Savings, Annually, 2003-2005

• Significant reduction in use of PAC 20,000 per
  year
• Reduction in labor costs for T and O panel
  testing, plant operators time a portion of
  50,000 per year
• Significant reduction in line flushing

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Acknowledgments

• City Utilities of Springfield, Missouri, Dave
  Ballou and staff, Blackman Laboratory
• Aquatic Control, David Issacs, President
• Applied Biochemists, Bill Ratajczyk, Regional
  Manager