Blog post
The CWRS is working with Halifax Regional Municipality to monitor and detect blue-green algae in water.

Tagged people:
The CWRS is working with Halifax Regional Municipality to monitor and detect blue-green algae in water.
The Centre for Water Resources Studies (CWRS) is working with the Halifax Regional Municipality to conduct research for the detection and monitoring of blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, in water by using a novel passive sampling method.
Cyanobacteria are naturally occurring in freshwater, lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams, but at high levels, can be harmful to people and animals. Climate change is warming lake water sooner and keeping it warmer longer, creating a need for new ways to monitor cyanobacteria.
The CWRS team's goal is to monitor water quality in lakes to better understand cyanobacterial bloom formation in water. This month, our team successfully deployed passive sampling devices into seven lakes in HRM, hoping to monitor cyanobacterial growth before they form harmful algal blooms. This will help ensure the safety of beach visitors and their pets this summer season by providing an early detection system for cyanobacteria and their associated toxins.
For more information on cyanobacteria and harmful blooms, click here.
For inquiries, please contact us at water@dal.ca.
For updates on research conducted by our team, follow us @waterstudies.