Algae in Domestic Water Supply

Algae is everywhere.

Removing algae , both mechanically and biologically | Velda

How to Remove Algae from Clean Water Tanks | Camper Report

10 ways to beat algae — Practical Fishkeeping Magazine

What are the Different Types of Home Water Treatment System ?

It also depends a lot on what this domestic water will be used for; drinking, bathing, bread making, aquarium, swimming.

Thanks Alot for the feedback

it is for drinking, bathing!!!

what happens is that we will be changing all piping system in this house but will it eliminate this issue???

No.

What is the source of your water? Well, creek, pond, river?

water supply that comes from the Govt main treatment plant-river

No changing materials won'y help.

What is the source of your water? Well, creek, pond, river?

In reply to #5

And what did, "the Govt main treatment plant-river" say when you called to ask?

Perhaps a complete explanation of your system and materials of construction would help. 20 questions isn't fun.

Algae need light for photosynthesis. Opaque pipes will block light. Changing one opaque pipe for another will make no difference.

Why do you think you have algae? If you took a water sample to a laboratory for analysis then the report should identify the species of algae. An independent laboratory analysis identifying the contaminant will also be good to present to the treatment plant and your local press. While you are at it, mention Flint Michigan.

https://www.coptrol.com.au/Coptrolspecificuse/HowtoControlAlgaeinHouseholdPotable(Drinking)WaterTanks.aspx

The best way to <...remove algae...> is to stop them from getting in and breeding there in the first place, which is a function of the quality of the water, its bacterial resilience, the design of the distribution system, the installation within the home and the temperature range the <...algae...> experience along their journey. The best place to do it is at the central water treatment plant that supplies the <...domestic water...> and many solutions are both available to, and applied by, a well-run facility. However, it might be that this location is not the actual site of the problem. What has been withheld from the forum is whether this is a single-home problem or whether it is a regional problem. The <...pacific region...> is an area about 1/3 of the surface of the planet, which is not terribly useful information, as it is unlikely that the same problem persists everywhere in it.

Home-brew solutions are unlikely to be as effective as centralised ones.

The matter is best addressed locally by contacting people that can help, and in this instance it is those running the facility from which the <...domestic water...> is purchased.

thanks for the feedback

really appreciate this and will definitely follow up with the authorities

Thanks to your reply

will follow up with the authorities

really appreciate this

Does your source water supply, is it a reservoir in a agricultural community?

what aids algae is nitrate and phosphorus (fertilizers) runoff from farmers fields...

You’d have to talk and inform your untility company that supplies you your water of these issues...

Have you had the utility test the water? Local University? It sounds like a main break that needs fixing somewhere up stream from you.

thanks for your feedback

You need to filter before drinking that water. Algae produce liver-damaging toxins.

A combination filter with activated carbon and membrane is being used in the States to remove those toxins as well as agricultural chemicals (which you want rid of as well!).

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/08/060823184753.htm

Thanks artsmith

Charlie, I read this article today and remembered your thread. It's about a new method using rice husks that have been treated with HCl, to remove the algae toxins. This could be an inexpensive method to purify water in the future: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190506080838.htm

Although not common, one of the easiest ways to get algae out is to check and regulate the PH level. You need to know the species of algae you are dealing with and if the system uses UV purifier. If so, that is your source and needs to be moved to place in the system that the water is in motion. I recirculate water in a hydroponics system and this is how I manage algae.

It appears you have used usual products. I suggest you add chlorine dioxide as a flush - much less danger from carcinogens since chlorine dioxide is an oxygen infused gas that is very effective in removing this kind of contamination, including mold and fungal conditions. Research the cleanup of New Orleans.

You may want to consider a sodium hydroxide system flush. It has the effect of dissolving organic material. This would be followed by either vinegar and water or pure water flush to neutralize the sodium hydroxide. The downside is that sodium hydroxide or any caustic flush will attack and corrode aluminum, zinc/aluminum or zinc parts in the wetted portions of the system. That may include your water heater anode rod and small parts in appliance control valves.

Algae love water high in phosphate content. To proliferate, algae typically requires phosphorus, nitrogen and iron. Eliminate one and the algae don't grow well. I live in Oregon and the soil is largely decomposed volcanic ash which is naturally high in phosphates. In the Pacific region, a lot of the geology is volcanic in origin and probably shares the same high phosphate groundwater effects. It is pretty definite that the algae are coming from an outside source and its presence calls the quality of your water supply into question. Getting your water tested is probably a good idea and addition of an incoming filter will likely be a good idea if you can't get the source fixed. A sand bed filter will work for the algae but requires periodic maintenance, specifically backflushing.

Good luck.

Thanks Jp

really appreciate the feedback

www.MyPureWater.com

Thanks Ms Jones

Testing the source water is always the best place to start. However, if you cannot determine that is where the issue lies, an option would be to correct the water at your home. Inject, if you can, a chlorine/water mix; run faucets till you smell chlorine; shut off and wait 30 minutes or so; flush with municipal water...Then install a prefilter cartridge one that is a 25/1 where the outside is 25 micron and the inner part is 1 micron. Follow this with an UltraViolet system and only then, if there are any taste/odor issues, install a carbon or carbon block (best) filter. A carbon filter will adsorb bacteria/algae and with the amount of surface area will increase any bacteria unless the incoming water is safe.

Hello Charlie and welcome to this site.

Firstly, a big thank you to you as a new member. You have responded with kind remarks to the advice and responses given. I'm sure the other members will agree that this is appreciated.

Secondly, I'd be interested in knowing which country you are in. I understand that some of the Pacific Island nations have small populations (Smaller than what some of us would regard as large towns) and so do not have the resources that we take for granted. If you are in say Indonesia, then there is substantial technical support readily available and water testing and availability of the chemicals and devices already mentioned would be no challenge. If you are in say Tonga or Samoa, then water samples cannot be reliably tested "in nation" and would typically need to be sent to New Zealand.

In my earlier comment, I presumed that you were in one of the smaller island nations, though you mentioned the water is from a stream, so that rules out some of those smaller places.

Again, welcome.

Hey! I can tell you the way that I removed algae from my aquarium. Arcreef has a type of algae that grows faster than the other species, I believe it is called Coralline Algae. It is a beautiful type of algae that eliminates the other ones. It even protects the reef. So, if you can't get rid of them, try replacing them with more enjoyable and useful ones.