New York water experts focus on cyanobacteria control
New York water experts will discuss controlling cyanobacteria with EarthTec at annual meeting.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Controlling cyanobacteria tops the agenda for the upcoming meeting of the New York American Water Works Association (NY AWWA). The chapter holds its annual meeting in Saratoga Springs this month. The meeting follows Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s recent announcement of a $65 million plan to combat harmful cyanobacteria blooms in the Empire State.
Gov. Cuomo’s initiative responds to a string of cyanobacteria-related water quality incidents over the past several years. Since 2015, increasingly larger blooms have threatened popular lakes and drinking water supplies. Even Central Park has suffered.
Signs posted in Central Park last summer warned of cyanobacteria blooms. The signs advised parkgoers to stay out of the water. Dogs were prohibited from swimming to prevent them from drinking the toxic sludge. Similar signs appeared at popular beaches throughout the state. Such warnings help protect swimmers and boaters, but not the many residents and tourists who rely on the lakes for drinking water.
“Severe cyanobacteria blooms hit drinking water supplies especially hard,” said David Carrington, Business Manager at Earth Science Laboratories (ESL). “Even when toxin levels remain low, water treatment plants often face complaints about taste and odor. Controlling cyanotoxins and the chemicals that cause taste and odor issues are high priorities.”
ESL will send a representative to the NY AWWA to discuss EarthTec® for controlling cyanobacteria. EarthTec is an advanced algaecide/bactericide*. ESL’s Cyanobacteria Rapid Response Team uses EarthTec to kill cyanobacteria and reduce chemicals that produce unpleasant taste and odor in drinking water.
More information on the NY AWWA annual conference can be found at https://nysawwa.org/events/nywe.
Earth Science Laboratories Inc. manufactures EarthTec for the controlling and preventing algae and cyanobacteria. EarthTec is EPA registered and approved for use in open waters and in pipelines. It is NSF Certified to ANSI Standard 60. Visit earthtecwatertreatment.com for more information.
*Nonpublic health bacteria