In March 1999, ORSANCO began coordinating an algae monitoring pilot program to address concerns with increased algal blooms and taste and odor problems with Ohio River drinking water. The purpose of the program is to collect data on algal composition and abundance at multiple Ohio River locations so that status and trends can be tracked for water utility companies. Originally, participation of water utilities was voluntary, with each utility responsible for sample collection, preservation, shipping and analytical costs.

Beginning July 1, 2000, ORSANCO assumed responsibility for the monitoring program and expanded the work to include additional monitoring locations and analyses. Algal samples are analyzed at the Diatom Research Herbarium and Laboratory of Northern Kentucky University. Nutrient parameters are analyzed by Cardinal Laboratories in Covington, Kentucky.

The Program:

• bi-weekly monitoring for algal counts and genus-level identification
• biweekly monitoring of total phosphorus, ammonia-nitrogen, TKN, and nitrite + nitrate-nitrogen
• biweekly monitoring of chlorophyll-a

The Benefits:

• provides consistent enumeration and identification of algae
• establishes river-wide trends in algae composition and abundance
• provides early warning capabilities to downstream utilities for algae conditions
• provides data for the future development of nutrient criteria

Currently, ten water utilities participate in the algae & nutrient monitoring program. Each participant assumes responsibility for collecting raw water samples on a weekly basis and submitting them records of algae problems to ORSANCO for data correlation.

Participating Water Utilities:

West View Water Authority, Pittsburgh, PA
East Liverpool Water Department, East Liverpool, OH
City of Follansbee Water Department, Follansbee, WV
Wheeling Water Treatment Plant, Wheeling, WV
WV-American Water Company, Huntington, WV
Ashland Water Works, Ashland, KY
Northern Kentucky Water District, Ft. Thomas, KY
Louisville Water Company, Louisville, KY
EA2 Water Systems, Evansville, IN
Paducah Water Works, Paducah, KY