Canadian Shield Consultants
Research Development
Our research and development strategies include sampling, detecting, treating and preventing.
WHAT ARE BLUE-GREEN ALGAE?
Scientifically known as Cyanobacteria, blue-green algae are primitive microscopic organisms that have inhabited the earth for over 2 billion years. Occurs naturally in a wide range of environments including ponds, rivers, lakes and streams. Most often blue-green, but they can range in colour from olive-green to red.
WHAT IS BEING DONE?
Canadian Shield Consultants has been in collaboration with researchers at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine to further develop fast, effective screening for blue-green algae in Northern Ontario lakes. Utilizing aerial photographic technology to identify blue-green algae by visualizing pigments of live bacteria, we can identify the exact strains of algae present in specific waterways. Canadian Shield Consultants is working with a technology that uses ultrasound waves to prevent blue-green algae from developing, as well as looking at other remediation techniques for lakes that are often affected by blue-green algae, and ways to prevent lakes from becoming suitable for the growth of blue-green algae.
ENVIRONMENT
Blue-green algae has a detrimental effect on the environment, including:
- deterioration of water quality.
- reduce dissolved oxygen levels in the water column which can severely degrade aquatic ecosystems and lead to the death of aquatic organisms, causing a decline in biodiversity.
HOW CAN BLUE-GREEN ALGAL BLOOMS BE REDUCED OR PREVENTED?
- use phosphate-free detergents, personal care and household cleaning products.
- avoid using fertilizers on lawns, especially fertilizers that contain phosphorus.
- maintain a natural shoreline on lake and riverfront properties.
- reduce agricultural runoff by planting or maintaining vegetation along waterways. and minimize fertilizer use.
- check septic systems to ensure they do not leak into the water source. Assure that the septic system is installed, operated and maintained as per code. The system may require to have the ability to reduce nutrients like phosphorus and nitrite.
Source: https://canadianshieldconsultants.ca/services/research-development/
