Scientists spurred by a thirst to transform the field of phytoplankton forecasting

Safe Drinking Water Threatened by Phytoplankton Blooms

Safe drinking water is threatened globally by the increased toxicity of phytoplankton — or microscopic algae — blooms.

The need for a better understanding of when and where the blooms will emerge spurred Virginia Tech researchers to start developing the first automated, real-time lake phytoplankton forecasting system. Working with the University of Florida, Virginia Tech faculty have been awarded a $2.2 million National Science Foundation grant as one of 12 projects funded by the foundation’s new Using the Rules of Life to Address Societal Challenges program.

“The enormous opportunity to apply biological principles to solving the biggest problems of today is one we cannot take lightly,” said Susan Marqusee, the foundation’s assistant director for biological sciences. “These projects will use life to improve life, including for many underprivileged communities and groups.”

The Importance of Phytoplankton

Phytoplankton play a key role in sustaining life on Earth as the base of aquatic food webs and in producing oxygen. But increasing water temperatures and nutrient pollution are transforming the freshwater environments where phytoplankton live, causing large proliferations of phytoplankton, or blooms, in many lakes and reservoirs.

“Phytoplankton blooms are one example of an emergent behavior many species exhibit that can have ecosystem-scale, societally important consequences, yet are challenging to predict,” said Cayelan Carey, professor of biological sciences, who will serve as the lead principal investigator.

The Forecasting System

An affiliated faculty of Fralin Life Sciences Institute, Carey will lead four Virginia Tech researchers spanning three colleges and five departments and one researcher at the University of Florida in integrating cutting-edge lake ecosystem models and statistical software with cloud and edge computing  — processing data closer to where it’s being generated — to create daily forecasts for the next 35 days. The forecasts will be provided to local water managers, who researchers will be working with in tandem.

“If managers had forecasts of phytoplankton blooms, they could preemptively act to mitigate water quality impairment (e.g., apply algaecides, adjust water treatment), thereby decreasing costs and improving drinking water safety,” said Carey, who also serves as the Roger Moore and Mojdeh Khatam-Moore Faculty Fellow in the College of Science.

The Ripple Effect

The project will first establish workshops with local water managers to evaluate drinking water risks with the broader impact coming through the deployment of the automated phytoplankton forecasting system at lakes across the country. This system will be developed at drinking water reservoirs in Roanoke in partnership with the Western Virginia Water Authority and will build on the partnership between Carey and the water authority, who have worked together since 2013. 

“Our customers directly benefit from our partnership with Virginia Tech,” said Sarah Baumgardner, director of public relations at the Western Virginia Water Authority. “This research currently informs the reservoir management and treatment decisions our operators make. Now we’re excited to take this research one step further to educate even more members of our community.”

In addition to building the forecasting system, a major goal of the project will expand established educational outreach programs, including:

• Water science lessons for K-12 students at drinking water reservoirs.
• Teaching modules on forecasting and freshwater ecosystems for high school students and community college students in water/wastewater certificate programs.
• Expanded versions of  modules for four-year undergraduate STEM programs, which will be piloted and tested in Virginia Tech’s Computational Modeling and Data Analytics classes.

The grant also will support the development of workshops aimed at state and federal agency managers, as well as international lake scientists to ensure broad adoption. 

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The article discusses the threat to safe drinking water due to the increased toxicity of phytoplankton blooms. This issue is directly related to SDG 6, which aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

SDG 14: Life Below Water

The article highlights the role of phytoplankton in sustaining life on Earth and the impact of increasing water temperatures and nutrient pollution on freshwater environments. These issues are connected to SDG 14, which focuses on the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources and ecosystems.

SDG 15: Life on Land

The article mentions the transformation of freshwater environments where phytoplankton live, which is relevant to SDG 15 that aims to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping, and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials.

Target 6.4: Increase water-use efficiency and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity.

SDG 14: Life Below Water

Target 14.1: Prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, particularly from land-based activities, including nutrient pollution.

Target 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including through the strengthening of their resilience.

Target 14.7: Increase the economic benefits to small island developing states and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture, and tourism.

SDG 15: Life on Land

Target 15.1: Ensure conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.

Target 15.4: By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not explicitly mention any indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. However, potential indicators could include measurements of water quality parameters (e.g., nutrient levels, toxicity levels), assessments of freshwater ecosystem health and biodiversity, and evaluations of the effectiveness of management strategies in mitigating phytoplankton blooms and improving water quality.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators