July 18, 2025
Environment
Muttukadu Estuary: How To Prevent Algal Blooms In Lakes and Reservoirs
Muttukadu, a small town situated on the outskirts of Chennai, is renowned for its lush greenery, picturesque backwaters, and serene environment.
However, the region has lost its sheen and diverse flora and fauna in recent times due to growing algal blooms in the Muttukadu Estuary.
They are not a new phenomenon, as you may have seen green algae covering large areas of coastlines, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and other bodies of water.
However, the exponential growth of harmful algal blooms in freshwater is a matter of grave concern for aquatic organisms, the environment, and public health.
Therefore, urgent solutions are required to prevent algal blooms.
Understanding Algal Blooms
An algal bloom can be described as the rapid growth of algae in the aquatic ecosystem.
They occur naturally due to the presence of phytoplankton.
The microscopic algae are known for their photosynthetic activity as they provide food to aquatic organisms and are harmless.
But the dense growth of these species leads to the production of toxins and the consumption of dissolved oxygen in the water bodies.
These are known as Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), which pose a significant threat to aquatic life and humans.
What Causes It?
They are primarily caused by the presence of a growing load of nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, in water bodies.
The primary sources of nutrient pollution include households, industries, and agricultural activities that generate excessive amounts of chemical waste.
It reaches water bodies untreated, causing eutrophication and algal blooms.
The high water temperatures due to global warming and climate change contribute to algal blooms.
It facilitates rapid nutrient decomposition, allowing bacteria to feed on nutrients and grow rapidly.
Cyanobacteria, which cause blue-green algae to grow faster, become thicker, and absorb more sunlight, leading to the proliferation of algae in water bodies.
Stable water bodies with low flows, slow-moving water, or those with minimal disturbance have a higher likelihood of supporting them.
It leads to the development of a warm water layer over cooler water, supporting algal growth and blooms.
Negative Impact
They degrade the water quality.
In addition, green algae produce potent toxins, which, when exposed to or consumed by humans, can lead to severe health consequences.
It can contaminate drinking water supplies and cause deaths as well.
It significantly impacts the aquatic ecosystem, disturbing the balance and leading to fish kills, animal die-offs, dead zones, and the deterioration of aquatic life.
Algal Blooms in Muttukadu Estuary
The Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA), the nodal agency for the development of brackishwater aquaculture in the country, has an experimental field station at Muttukadu.
According to their scientists, the primary cause is oxygen depletion resulting from eutrophication.
Microcystis Aeruginosa is a cyanobacterial type that produces hepatotoxin known as Microcystin.
Its presence in high quantities can be fatal to aquatic living organisms, birds, and humans.
The primary reason for eutrophication, according to various sources, is the release of untreated sewage into the backwater.
Additionally, the flow of freshwater into the lagoon is hindered by construction activities in the catchment area.
The accumulation of sand due to high sea tides has also caused stagnant water in the lagoon.
How to Prevent It?
There are numerous existing solutions to prevent algal blooms, but most of them are either unaffordable, ineffective, or environmentally unfriendly.
For instance, algaecides are commonly used to prevent it; however, they are also known to damage the entire aquatic ecosystem.
Other methods, such as aeration, are very expensive. Bioremediation has emerged as one of the best solutions to prevent it.
Organica Biotech is a leading company offering a wide range of bioremediation solutions that are both effective and eco-friendly.
Bioclean Pond Clarifier is an advanced, natural, and microbial solution that is very effective for the bioremediation of water bodies.
The enzymatic formulation acts on pollutants and reduces the excess nutrient load in the water.
It also controls bad odour, reduces sludge volumes, and acts against toxins, preventing them.
It can work as an optimal solution to the growing algal bloom problem in Muttukadu and other water bodies in India.
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