Protocols for algal bloom management – technology performance & optimisation assessments

Industry needs a clear and consistent approach to assess the efficacy and performance of the many technologies for managing algal blooms in waterbodies. These technologies are often offered by technology and innovation providers with the promise that they will solve algal bloom issues. However, there are several factors that, if poorly understood and addressed, can cause these technologies to perform unsatisfactorily against the needs of water utilities. This research has developed a customisable protocol to address the knowledge gaps associated with selecting, deploying, monitoring, and assessing the overall performance of technologies for managing algal blooms. This protocol will benefit suppliers when they are recommending and selling technologies, as well as water utilities when they are selecting and deploying these technologies.

As a part of this project, the protocols will be applied by participating utilities during field trials of selected technologies. This will provide insights into how the protocol is applied during real-world performance assessments of algal bloom technology, which will allow the learnings to be compared against the requirements in the protocol. These field trials are ongoing, and each of the final reports detailing how the protocol is applied will be published on our website as they are developed.