Harmful Algal Blooms at Ohio Public Water Supplies Presented at the Ohio Academy of Sciences, 2012.

1. Heather Raymond Ohio Academy of Science
HABs Symposium
Ohio EPA, DDAGW April 14, 2012
PWS HAB Coordinator

2.  Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae)
 A “bloom” occurs when conditions are conducive
for a rapid increase in cyanobacteria
 There are many different genera and species of
cyanobacteria, and not all produce toxins
 A HAB is a bloom caused by cyanobacteria that
are capable of producing toxins

3. • Toxin production - Dermal toxins, neurotoxins, and hepatotoxins
In Ohio in 2010 there were 48 Human Illnesses and 5 Dog Deaths
• Taste and odor problems - Methylisoborneol (MIB) & Geosmin
• Increased organic carbon load - Concern for water treatment and TTHMs
• Dissolved oxygen dips - Can result in fish kills
• Nuisance - Visual and olfactory effects can be significant
• Costs to Communities
Economic impacts from loss of recreation based tourism
>$100,000/month for extra carbon treatment at PWSs

4.  Cyanotoxins are NOT Regulated Contaminants
 Water Systems are NOT Required to Monitor for them
Threshold (ug/L) Microcystin Anatoxin-a Cylindrospermopsin Saxitoxin
Do Not Drink- 1 - 20 20 - 300 1 – 20 0.2 - 3
All consumers
Do Not Use- > 20 > 300 > 20 >3
All consumers
Recreation 6 80 5 .8
 Ohio EPA Decides to Sample for Cyanotoxins Based on:
Bloom severity, Proximity to intake, Treatment capabilities, and
Other considerations: history of toxins, human illness, screening data,
microcystin test kit results, etc.
 Some Water Systems Voluntarily Monitor

5. Ohio Harmful Algal Blooms (2010-2011)
19 Public Water
ODH Reported Illnesses related to algal toxin exposurewith
Systems :
toxins in raw water
41 human illnesses (probable) and 8 (suspect)
7 dog illnesses (probable) 5 of which died Drinking
No
Water Advisories
Probable and Suspect Cases:
Grand Lake St. Marys - 8 (4 dog illnesses, including 3 deaths)
Western Lake Erie - 9
Burr Oak State Park - 7 (2 dog deaths)
Deer Creek - 3
Lake Alma - 2
Intakes with
Lake Hope - 1
HABsLake Loramie - (1 dog illness)
Recreation UseO-Chee (Camp Wilson) - 19
Lake Mac
Advisories

6. Worst Cyanobacteria Bloom in 30 Years
Western Basin
 Microcystin >1000 ppb
 PWS Raw Water >5 ppb, Finished: non-detect
Central Basin
 First Source Water Microcystin Detections
(>100 ppb)

7.  304 Raw and Finished Cyanotoxin Samples
 DDAGW analyzed 177 samples
 PWSs analyzed 127 samples
 No finished water detections
 Cyanotoxins present in 57% of source water samples
 Maximum Inland Lake Microcystin Concentration- 43.4 ug/L (Celina)
 Maximum Lake Erie Intake Microcystin Concentration - >5 ug/L
 Saxitoxin only detected in raw water at Akron (below threshold)
 Microcystin Concentrations in 2011 in Lake Erie and
GLSM greater than concentrations in 2010

8. Microcystin Concentration (ug/L)
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
0
5
1-Jan
15-Jan
29-Jan
12-Feb
26-Feb
12-Mar
26-Mar
9-Apr
46.40
23-Apr
7-May
21-May
4-Jun
18-Jun
2-Jul
43.40
Date
16-Jul
30-Jul
13-Aug
27-Aug
at City of Celina Intake
10-Sep
24-Sep
14.70
8-Oct
22-Oct
5-Nov
19-Nov
Grand Lake Saint Mary Microcystin Concentration
3-Dec
17-Dec
2012?
Series3
Series2
Series1
2011
2012
2010
2011 was
4x Higher
than 2010

9. Western Lake Erie Basin Microcystin Concentrations
at Public Water System Intakes
>
> 5 14x Higher
4.5
than 2010
Microcystin Concentration (ug/L)
4
Carroll
3.5
Township
3 Oregon
2.5
Ottawa County
2
1.5
Toledo
1
0.5
0
Date

10. 9
8.8
8.6
8.4 y = 0.1472x + 8.0059
R² = 0.3497
pH
8.2
8
7.8
7.6
7.4
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
Microcystin Concentration (ug/L)

11. 29
27
Temperature (Degrees Celsius)
25
23
y = 1.0605x + 20.54
R² = 0.4168
21
19
17
15
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5
Microsystin Concentration (ug/L)

12.  Celina
Toxins concentrations greater at intake in 2011, when
scums were not present (could be attributed to
cyanobacteria genera change).
 Lake Erie
Highest toxins detected at mainland intakes in
extreme western basin prior to scum formation.
Toxins detected at Put-in-Bay intake two weeks
before scum formed, not detected after scums formed
(microcystin concentration in scum was 340 ug/L).
 Akron
Toxins not detected during scum-forming bloom, but
detected months later when scum no longer present.

15. Grand Lake Saint Marys 2010
May23 May27 May30 May31 Jun02
Jun06 Jun15 Jun16 Jun18 Jul01
Jul04 Jul05 Jul07 Jul08 Jul11 Jul14
Jul15 Jul17 Jul20
March 3, Jul23
2012 Jul27 Aug25
Aug28 Aug31 Sep07 Sep09 Sep10 Sep12

16. YES

17.  Lake Erie HAB Forecasts
 http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/Centers/HABS/l
ake_erie_hab/
 Inland Lakes HAB Data
 http://www2.nccos.noaa.gov/COAST/Ohio/

18. Thank You!
Please contact me if you have
any questions:
 (614) 644-2752
 HABmailbox@epa.state.oh.us
 Heather.Raymond@epa.state.oh.us
www.epa.ohio.gov/ddagw/HAB.aspx