FIELD EVALUATION OF ULTRASOUND ON ALGAL BLOOMS FOR MITIGATION

Algal blooms are common in freshwater bodies such as the Great Lakes and other freshwater reservoirs and have negative impacts on water quality both recreationally and for drinking water. Ultrasound has been proposed as a long-term solution to mitigate algal blooms by reducing algal growth. A field study was conducted in the reservoirs of Del-Co Water Company in Delaware, Ohio from May to October of 2023 and 2024, to observe the effects of ultrasound on algal blooms. The purpose of this study was to compare algae growth over time and between reservoirs in ultrasound treated and traditionally treated reservoirs with the same environmental factors to determine if ultrasound treatment had an impact on algae growth and populations. Sound pressure and frequency, algae type and relative abundance, and chlorophyll-a, and other water quality parameters were measured and used to monitor algae growth and impact of ultrasound across reservoirs. No significant differences were observed in algae abundance over time in ultrasound treated reservoirs compared to chemically treated reservoirs. Within the ultrasound treated reservoir, no clear impacts of ultrasound on algae growth by distance from the ultrasound units were observed. This study aimed to better understand the impacts of ultrasound on algae growth in the environment by analyzing differences in water quality parameters, algae populations, and abundance of algae over time. 

Presentation Preference: Either

Primary Presenter: Kaiden Murphy, The Ohio State University (murphy.2399@buckeyemail.osu.edu)

Authors:

Kaiden Murphy, The Ohio State University  (murphy.2399@buckeyemail.osu.edu)

Mark Tischer, The Ohio Sate University  (mtischer16@gmail.com)

Shengxi Giu, The Ohio State University  (gui.55@buckeyemail.osu.edu)

Sam Gill, The Ohio State University  (gill.662@buckeyemail.osu.edu)

Ashley Hockstok, The Ohio State University  (hockstok.273@osu.edu)

Nolan Dwenger, The Ohio State University  (dwenger.18@buckeyemail.osu.edu)

Yang Tang, The Ohio State University  (tang.1693@buckeyemail.osu.edu)

C.R. Weaver, City of Columbus  (crweaver@columbus.gov)

Rongjun Qin, The Ohio State University  (qin.324@osu.edu)

Linda Weavers, The Ohio State University  (weavers.1@osu.edu)