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Ecology Publications & Forms |
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Ecology Publications & Forms |
| Title | A Review on the Use and Monitoring of Alum Treatments to Control Algal Blooms |
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A Review on the Use and Monitoring of Alum Treatments to Control Algal Blooms (Number of pages: 56) (Publication Size: 1838KB)
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| Author(s) | Hobbs, W., and M. Rosewood | ||||
| Description | For lakes impacted by excessive algal growth and harmful algal blooms (HABs), reducing external phosphorus inputs may not be enough to reverse the nutrient-rich state. It may be necessary to employ an engineered solution for the in-lake reduction or inactivation of phosphorus in the water column. Aluminum sulfate (alum) is most commonly used for lakes with HABs. The goal of this literature review is to provide an overview of phosphorus inactivation using alum as a lake management tool. The main objectives are to (1) review basic limnology and algal growth, (2) describe the use of alum as a restoration tool, (3) provide an overview of the chemistry and possible impacts of using alum, and (4) explore potential parameters that can be useful in monitoring to identify and minimize unintended ecosystem impacts. The goal of an alum treatment is to rapidly alter the lake ecosystem by limiting primary production; as such, there are intended ecosystem shifts. Deciphering unintended ecosystem shifts is often difficult to quantitatively disentangle from intended shifts . Phosphorus inactivation treatments are permitted under Ecology’s Aquatic Plant and Algae Management (APAM) General Permit, which expires on March 21, 2026. As part of the renewal process for the permit, Ecology can consider changes to the monitoring requirements associated with phosphorus inactivation products. The water quality monitoring currently required under the permit is worth continuing, particularly collecting water samples analyzed for aluminum, dissolved organic carbon, and pH. There are a number of supplemental ecosystem indicators that could be monitored before and after alum treatments, depending on the availability of funding and community interests. Under the permit, Ecology should focus on requiring monitoring that documents the concentrations of active chemicals being added as phosphorus inactivation agents. |
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| Contact | EAP Publications Coordinator at 564-669-3028 or EAPpubs@ecy.wa.gov | ||||
| Keywords | harmful algae bloom, treatment, phosphorus, lake, alum, HABs | ||||
| WEB PAGE | Aquatic Plant & Algae Management General Permit |
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