Biochemical Indicators of Algal Bloom in Sewage-Contaminated Lakes
Publication: Journal of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste
Volume 23, Issue 4
Abstract
Pollution of Bengaluru lakes with partially treated sewage and stormwater runoffs has led to frequent algal blooms and fish kills in the lakes. This study examined the biochemical parameters of four polluted Bengaluru lakes to arrive at a proposal to control excess algal growth in the lakes. Results of the study indicate that during nonbloom conditions, the lakes classify as oligotrophic and mesotrophic lakes. During bloom conditions, the lakes mainly classify as eutrophic and hypereutrophic lakes. Reduction in bicarbonates, increase in pH, and insensitivity of chemical oxygen demand (COD) during algal growth experiments in the laboratory suggest the dominance of autotrophic algae in the lakes. Regulating COD levels of Bengaluru lakes at or below is recommended to reduce microbial activity and associated bicarbonate production. Reduction in nutrients and bicarbonate levels will in turn control excess algal growth. Alkaline lake water from photosynthetic metabolism of algae causes precipitation of calcite, dolomite, and magnesite minerals and concomitant reduction in Ca, Mg, and bicarbonate ion concentrations in the lake water.
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Data Availability Statement
All data used in the study appear in the published paper.
Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge the Earthwatch Institute India Trust for funding the project on Lakes of Bengaluru as drivers of an enriched blue-green cityscape. The authors are also thankful to the Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority, Government of Karnataka, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (Bangalore Municipal Corporation) for giving us permission to obtain samples from the lakes. The authors also thank the Puttenahalli Neighbourhood Lake Improvement Trust for facilitating sampling from Puttenahalli Lake.
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Published In
Journal of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste
Volume 23 • Issue 4 • October 2019
Copyright
©2019 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 22, 2019
Accepted: May 6, 2019
Published online: Jul 16, 2019
Published in print: Oct 1, 2019
Discussion open until: Dec 16, 2019
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