Can the elimination of cyanobacteria by micro-sieving be an innovative lake purity improvement method?

Abstract

The removal of harmful cyanobacteria has recently become an important target in water management strategies. Various methods have been developed to eliminate these microorganisms including: (1) biological methods, especially with floating treatment wetlands and riparian vegetation; (2) physical methods with aeration, mechanical circulation, and hypolimnetic oxygenation; (3) chemical methods with coagulation and flocculation processes; (4) barley straw. We propose that the in situ mechanical-based micro-sieving process provides an opportunity for this to succeed in practice. The appropriate, selective technical parameters and techniques can result in successful water quality improvement, which is essential to meet Water Framework Directive goals and especially for public health. Additionally, micro-sieving used for removing Gloeotrichia can contribute to a significant reduction in internal phosphorus loads, a necessary step in lake restoration. The theoretically probable mean cell-bound P-content transferred with G. echinulata colonies (during strong blooms) can be as high as 48 mg L^-1, and this potential P-load is usually deposited on lake bottoms. The removal of cyanobacterium can result in significant limitations of internal P-sources. The method presented above could be a promising, practical, easy-to-use, and cost-effective method for managing and limiting cyanobacterial blooms.