Harmful algae and their potential impacts on desalination operations off southern California.
Seawater desalination by reverse osmosis (RO) is a reliable method for augmenting drinking water supplies. In recent years, the number and size of these water projects have increased dramatically. As freshwater resources become limited due to global climate change, rising demand, and exhausted local water supplies, seawater desalination will play an important role in the world's future water supply, reaching far beyond its deep roots in the Middle East. Emerging contaminants have been widely discussed with respect to wastewater and freshwater sources, but also must be considered for seawater desalination facilities to ensure the long-term safety and suitability of this emerging water supply. Harmful algal blooms, frequently referred to as 'red tides' due to their vibrant colors, are a concern for desalination plants due to the high biomass of microalgae present in ocean waters during these events, and a variety of substances that some of these algae produce. These compounds range from noxious substances to powerful neurotoxins that constitute significant public health risks if they are not effectively and completely removed by the RO membranes. Algal blooms can cause significant operational issues that result in increased chemical consumption, increased membrane fouling rates, and in extreme cases, a plant to be taken off-line. Early algal bloom detection by desalination facilities is essential so that operational adjustments can be made to ensure that production capacity remains unaffected. This review identifies the toxic substances, their known producers, and our present state of knowledge regarding the causes of toxic episodes, with a special focus on the Southern California Bight.
Caron
David A
DA
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 3616 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0371, USA. dcaron@usc.edu
Garneau
Marie-Eve
ME
Seubert
Erica
E
Howard
Meredith D A
MD
Darjany
Lindsay
L
Schnetzer
Astrid
A
Cetinić
Ivona
I
Filteau
Gerry
G
Lauri
Phil
P
Jones
Burton
B
Trussell
Shane
S
D002140:California; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005843:Geography; D057097:Harmful Algal Bloom; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D010933:Plankton / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
D008387:Marine Toxins; D014873:Water Pollutants