{"title":"Decentralized Algae Removal Technologies for Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Canals: A Review","authors":"S. H. Safaei, S. Young","doi":"10.3808/jei.202400516","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Canals in Canada are crucial in providing water for irrigation, preventing droughts and floods, and supporting the Saskatchewan agriculture industry and economy. Unfortunately, filamentous algal blooms occur every summer in Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Canals. These algae are not toxic but a nuisance. They block farmers’ pumps and reduce irrigation water flow rates. Currently, the Water Security Agency periodically adds the algaecide Magnacide H. to control the algal blooms, which is costly (i.e., one million dollars per year for the Lake Diefenbaker M1 Irrigation Canal only) and requires effort to dewater the canal to protect fish. Therefore, algae removal before the canal water enters farmer’s pumps might be a cost-effective alternative, especially the removal of microalgae during the initial stages of growth in June of each year. This paper has summarized and evaluated algae removal technologies, considering their advantages, disadvantages, and potential solutions for addressing the challenges and limitations associated with these technologies. Five algae removal technologies were identified as promising, which are suspended air flotation (SAF), dissolved air flotation (DAF), hydrodynamic cavitation, spiral blade centrifuge, and coagulation. Among them, SAF seems the most suitable option, while DAF and hydrodynamic cavitation offer eco-friendly advantages. Further research and pilot testing are needed to determine the costeffective and feasible algae removal technology for Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Canals.\n","PeriodicalId":54840,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Informatics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.0000,"publicationDate":"2024-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Environmental Informatics","FirstCategoryId":"93","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.3808/jei.202400516","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Canals in Canada are crucial in providing water for irrigation, preventing droughts and floods, and supporting the Saskatchewan agriculture industry and economy. Unfortunately, filamentous algal blooms occur every summer in Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Canals. These algae are not toxic but a nuisance. They block farmers’ pumps and reduce irrigation water flow rates. Currently, the Water Security Agency periodically adds the algaecide Magnacide H. to control the algal blooms, which is costly (i.e., one million dollars per year for the Lake Diefenbaker M1 Irrigation Canal only) and requires effort to dewater the canal to protect fish. Therefore, algae removal before the canal water enters farmer’s pumps might be a cost-effective alternative, especially the removal of microalgae during the initial stages of growth in June of each year. This paper has summarized and evaluated algae removal technologies, considering their advantages, disadvantages, and potential solutions for addressing the challenges and limitations associated with these technologies. Five algae removal technologies were identified as promising, which are suspended air flotation (SAF), dissolved air flotation (DAF), hydrodynamic cavitation, spiral blade centrifuge, and coagulation. Among them, SAF seems the most suitable option, while DAF and hydrodynamic cavitation offer eco-friendly advantages. Further research and pilot testing are needed to determine the costeffective and feasible algae removal technology for Lake Diefenbaker Irrigation Canals.
期刊介绍:
Journal of Environmental Informatics (JEI) is an international, peer-reviewed, and interdisciplinary publication designed to foster research innovation and discovery on basic science and information technology for addressing various environmental problems. The journal aims to motivate and enhance the integration of science and technology to help develop sustainable solutions that are consensus-oriented, risk-informed, scientifically-based and cost-effective. JEI serves researchers, educators and practitioners who are interested in theoretical and/or applied aspects of environmental science, regardless of disciplinary boundaries. The topics addressed by the journal include:
- Planning of energy, environmental and ecological management systems
- Simulation, optimization and Environmental decision support
- Environmental geomatics - GIS, RS and other spatial information technologies
- Informatics for environmental chemistry and biochemistry
- Environmental applications of functional materials
- Environmental phenomena at atomic, molecular and macromolecular scales
- Modeling of chemical, biological and environmental processes
- Modeling of biotechnological systems for enhanced pollution mitigation
- Computer graphics and visualization for environmental decision support
- Artificial intelligence and expert systems for environmental applications
- Environmental statistics and risk analysis
- Climate modeling, downscaling, impact assessment, and adaptation planning
- Other areas of environmental systems science and information technology.