The FlowCam facilitates exceptional measurement of algae species and acts as an early warning system for operators in the field.
FlowCam provides an easy method to be proactive and enables more consistent monitoring. As a result, we have more confidence in water quality.
Sherry Williams, Water Quality Control Supervisor, Newport News Waterworks
Owned and operated by the City of Newport News in Virginia, Newport News Waterworks is a regional water supplier. The organization runs five reservoirs across 12,000 acres of watershed property, at the same time supplying water to more than 400,000 people.
The Challenge
Newport News previously used manual microscopy methods to analyze the water in its terminal reservoirs. A surge in algal populations, especially in the summer months, led to a reduction in filter run times and enhanced the possibility of issues related to taste and odor. These manually conducted investigations were subjective.
Newport News was on a quest to find a technique that would supply analytical and quantifiable results for its water examinations. The company also expressed the desire to discover a method that offered insight into data trends in order to be more active when correcting potential blooms.
The FlowCam flow imaging microscope provided the solution that Newport News was looking for. Consequently, the operations teams were given the capacity to execute process changes within the waterworks treatment plants with better quality data, and additional data was used to improve raw water pumping strategies.
From Manual Microscopy to Instant Results
Prior to the adoption of the FlowCam, it was necessary to assign an employee at Newport News to manually monitor algae with a standard microscope. At least once a week, the employee tested raw water at the terminal reservoir.
The organization understood that the knowledge of algae classification was becoming obsolete and it would be increasingly time consuming and labor-intensive to continue to conduct manual investigations.
After incorporating the FlowCam, the team examined all reservoirs and the bodies of water that fed them on a more consistent schedule; each week, up to seven or eight samples were being tested throughout the warmer summer months.
Being able to track and trend algae species, turbidity and pH has allowed us to track conditions that may precipitate a bloom, providing better insight of what goes on in the reservoir.
Sherry Williams, Water Quality Control Supervisor, Newport News Waterworks
The FlowCam also offered employees enhanced accessibility when the investigation was being performed: “Even ignoring that it’s simpler to run a sample through the FlowCam vs. pulling out the microscope, the FlowCam provides large, high-quality images of the particles I am interested in, which lets me go through some books and try to identify the organism at my own pace,” explained Anna Maria Miller, Laboratory Analyst.
The algae concentration (particles/mL) can also be calculated by the FlowCam. This is the standard number that Newport News utilizes for its typical monitoring process.
FlowCam changed the monitoring process by creating a quicker turn-around time. I can run a sample within a few minutes of it arriving. Then, if necessary, I can just give someone a quick call and say, ‘it doesn’t look great’ before going through the classification process.
Anna Maria Miller, Laboratory Analyst
Lyngbya, the cyanobacteria responsible for the taste and odor episode at Newport News Waterworks. PC: Newport News Waterworks. Image Credit: Yokogawa Fluid Imaging Technologies, Inc.
Anabaena, one type of cyanobacteria responsible for blooms at the Newport News reservoirs. Image Credit: Yokogawa Fluid Imaging Technologies, Inc.
Changing How and When to Treat for Blooms
Any delay can be costly when an imminent bloom is detected. Having the capacity to instantly treat a reservoir, as opposed to waiting a day, can affect the quantity of copper sulfate necessary to alleviate the bloom.
The FlowCam has aided a much improved and proactive approach to the use of algaecides by supplying efficient analysis and trackable metrics of algae populations.
New FlowCam to Monitor Cyanobacteria
Currently, Newport News is concentrating its efforts on improving water quality by carefully monitoring cyanobacteria. Recently, the latest FlowCam Cyano was replaced with the organization’s original FlowCam VS. This instrument comes with built-in optical filters and a red laser that allows the instrument to distinguish cyanobacteria from other algae, by identifying phycocyanin and chlorophyll pigments.
Relying solely on image analysis is not always feasible when measuring colonial and filamentous cyanobacteria. By tracking the phycocyanin fingerprint of cyanobacteria across the company’s reservoirs, managers have the ability to decide precisely when cyanotoxin testing is necessary.
This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Yokogawa Fluid Imaging Technologies, Inc.
For more information on this source, please visit Yokogawa Fluid Imaging Technologies, Inc.