Freshwater Science Teaser: Removing Algal Toxins from Drinking Water with Activated Carbon
Channel: Ohio Sea Grant
Date: 2022-01-25

During harmful algal bloom season, algal toxins can be common in drinking water drawn from Lake Erie. Water treatment plants are well set up to manage this issue for their customers, and often use powdered activated carbon to remove toxins, but they lack data on proper dosage depending on toxin types, toxin concentration and water properties.

Dr. John Lenhart from The Ohio State University's Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering, with funding from Ohio Sea Grant and the Harmful Algal Bloom Research Initiative, is developing these guidelines and sharing them with water treatment plant operators along the Lake Erie shoreline to help reduce the cost of safe drinking water.