Alert for water bodies! New measuring buoy will monitor algae blooms

Alert for water bodies! New measuring buoy will monitor algae blooms

What is currently going on in German waters is alarming: excessive algae proliferation is affecting water quality in many regions and is causing alarming conditions in some cases. So are loud daily news A third of the lakes in Germany are in moderate condition, 25% are in unsatisfactory condition and 10% are in poor condition. The consequences cannot be ignored: bathing bans, fish deaths and threats to drinking water reservoirs not only affect the environment, but also the population directly.

August 2022 marked a particularly sad peak: millions of fish died on the surface of the Oder, which was attributed to high salinity, most of which entered the river from Polish mining operations. These incidents show how fragile our waters are and how urgent measures are needed to improve water quality.

Innovative monitoring technology

In order to counteract this problem, the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research is working intensively on an algae early warning system. A new measuring buoy, which is being used in Scharmützelsee in Brandenburg, plays a central role. It weighs an impressive 200 kilograms and has measurement technology on board worth 80,000 euros. The buoy measures the oxygen and chlorophyll concentration in the water every 15 minutes in order to be able to track algae development more precisely.

This valuable data complements the satellite images from the EU “Copernicus” program. Satellites in particular often have difficulty determining the algae concentration precisely. Thanks to the new technology, the chlorophyll values ​​should now be linked in order to achieve better monitoring of nutrient pollution. After all, water temperatures are rising, which promotes the proliferation of blue-green algae, and climate change also means that nutrient pollution must be further reduced.

Algae monitor: A new way to early warning

Another project that could revolutionize water monitoring is the “Algae Monitor”. Launched in August 2024 by the Federal Institute of Hydrology, the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research and the Federal Environment Agency, it aims to use remote sensing data from water bodies. These are intended to support authorities in identifying algae mass developments at an early stage. The project is not only funded by DLR and BMDV, but also promises an important contribution to the management of drinking water dams and bathing waters.

Thanks to this initiative, real-time information about algal blooms can be generated. The development of a digital application on CODE-DE makes it possible to calculate the algae content in flowing and standing water in almost real time. This could be particularly important for small communities, which often lack the resources to effectively regulate algae.

The challenge of harmful algae blooms

The threat of harmful algae blooms should not be underestimated. These so-called HABs pose a growing threat to water quality and often exceed the capacity of many drinking water utilities. To counteract this, investment in modernizing water treatment systems is essential. Robeco highlights that the demand for specific water solutions is growing among municipalities, industry and agriculture.

Algae blooms are often a visible sign of other problems, such as nutrient inputs or climate change. Modern technology could make a decisive contribution to overcoming the challenges and protecting our waters for the future.