Algae and Associated Organisms in West Virginia Waters: Problems and Control Measures

The ecology of aquatic organisms is not only a subject of academic interest but is essential as a background for dealing with the economic significance of algae and other organisms in domestic and industrial water supplies. Tastes and odors associated with water supplies and the clogging of sand filters in the treatment plant are two big problems for which algae are responsible. Other problems include discoloration, slime production, and the ability of algae to combine with chlorine and thereby increase the amount of chlorine required for control of pathogens, and interference with sedimentation in the water treatment plant. Algae may also change the pH of the water through their utilization of carbon dioxide, and their accumulation on the walls and margins of swimming pools, reservoirs, treatment plant basins and in distribution systems.