Red Tide and Algae Blooms: A Growing Threat to Your Home’s Water Quality That Demands Immediate Attention
As Florida residents, we’re all too familiar with the crimson waters that occasionally wash up on our beaches, but the impact of red tide and algae blooms extends far beyond coastal recreation. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) occur when algae grow out of control while producing toxic or harmful effects on people, fish, shellfish, marine mammals, and birds, affecting not only the health of people and marine ecosystems, but also the “health” of local and regional economies. These environmental phenomena pose a serious threat to municipal water supplies and highlight the critical importance of proper home water filtration systems.
Understanding the Red Tide Phenomenon
A red tide occurs when certain types of algae—plant-like organisms that live in the water—grow out of control. The name “red tide” comes from the fact that overgrowth of algae can cause the color of the water to turn red, as well as green or brown. Kerenia brevis, common along the Florida coast of the Gulf of Mexico, produces a neurotoxin called brevetoxin that disrupts the firing of nerve cells. During a Kerenia brevis algal bloom manatees often wash ashore dead, both from ingesting and inhaling the noxious fumes.
Red tides in Florida can last as little as a few weeks to longer than a year. They may even subside and then reoccur. Richard Stumpf, an algal blooms expert at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), says red tides tend to occur in Florida every year. In Texas, they used to bloom every ten years, but now appear every three years.
How Red Tide Affects Municipal Water Systems
Municipal water treatment facilities face significant challenges when dealing with algae blooms. Blue-green algae and green algae that bloom in drinking water sources degrade water quality and are likely to end up in water treatment plants, clogging sand filters and pipes. They produce geosmins and MIB–compounds that give water an earthy and moldy taste and smell, often resulting in customer complaints.
Algal blooms produce toxins and endanger drinking water supplies, causing illness or even death. Unfortunately, it’s not unheard of for water districts to advise residents to not drink the tap water because of a harmful outbreak. Hopefully when an outbreak does occur that water district implements systems and protocols so that it doesn’t happen again, but there’s no guarantees.
Scientists know that certain environmental conditions, such as warmer water temperatures in the summer and excessive nutrients from fertilizers or sewage waste brought by runoff, trigger HABs, but they are still learning more.
Health Risks and Environmental Impact
The health implications of exposure to harmful algal blooms are serious and far-reaching. Depending on the type of algae, HABs can cause serious health effects and even death. For example, eating seafood contaminated by toxins from algae called Alexandrium can lead to paralytic shellfish poisoning, which can cause paralysis and even death. The algae Pseudo-nitzschia produces a toxin called domoic acid that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, confusion, seizures, permanent short term memory loss, or death, when consumed at high levels.
Not only do red tides create temporarily toxic oceans, they can also deplete the water of dissolved oxygen, causing a phenomenon known as a dead zone. When the algae die, they become a feast for microbes, like bacteria. These microbes, like animals, require oxygen, so as they feed on the dead algae they also multiply and consume much of the oxygen in the ocean. This leaves little available for fish and other creatures that breathe underwater. When the ocean becomes depleted of oxygen, fish can die en masse—leaving the ocean surface covered in floating, dead fish for as far as the eye can see.
The Limitations of Standard Water Filtration
Many homeowners assume their standard water filters will protect them from algae-related contaminants, but this assumption can be dangerous. There is no known recreational water filtration method that is effective at removing cyanotoxins. Do not drink water from a water body with a suspected or posted harmful algal bloom.
A filter or chemical treatment will remove the algae, but not the toxins that they may produce. There’s a bit of confusion about what you’re actually trying to treat/remove: the cyanobacteria (the organism most responsible for the algal blooms), or the cyanotoxins – the stuff that actually kills dogs, makes you sick, etc. The concentrations of toxins are highest in the presence of cyanobacteria, because of toxins inside the cells. So strategy #1: filter out the bacteria, and you tackle the bulk of the toxins.
Advanced Filtration Solutions for Florida Homes
Given the persistent threat of red tide and algae blooms in Florida waters, homeowners need sophisticated filtration systems that go beyond basic carbon filters. Ultrafiltration is a highly effective water filtration process to remove bacteria, algae, viruses, protozoa, and particles/solids on a microscopic level. It ensures the water throughout your entire home is clean and safe.
Consider installing a UV treatment system — it zaps microorganisms that algae feed on before they get into your plumbing. A UV water treatment system is one of the most reliable ways to do that. Chlorine has the potential to oxidize them into less toxic byproducts. UV light, just based on chemistry, should do the same as chlorine.
Why Professional Water Treatment is Essential
For Florida residents dealing with the ongoing threat of red tide and algae blooms, partnering with a trusted water treatment company is crucial. Quality Safe Water of Florida understands the unique challenges facing homeowners in our state. Quality Safe Water of Florida is dedicated to ensuring every Florida family has access to clean, safe, and purified water. We are committed to providing the highest quality, efficient, and affordable water treatment solutions, prioritizing the health and well-being of our customers. Our unwavering dedication to this vision sets us apart as Florida’s most trusted water treatment company, never wavering from our founders’ original mission.
The company’s comprehensive approach includes free in-home water analysis, professional installation, and fast, dependable servicing for all makes of water treatment systems, ensuring that your family’s protection against algae-related contaminants is both effective and reliable.
Prevention and Preparedness
With proactive planning, diligent operations and maintenance, and active management, public water systems can reduce the risks of cyanotoxins breaking through the treatment process and occurring in finished drinking water. The same principle applies to home water treatment systems.
Regular maintenance of your filtration system is essential. It’s a good idea to clean your filter system every 2–4 weeks, even if you don’t see algae. Regular cleaning helps prevent the build-up of contaminants and ensures your drinking water stays safe and fresh.
Conclusion
Red tide and algae blooms represent a persistent and growing threat to Florida’s water quality. As these phenomena become more frequent and severe, homeowners cannot rely solely on municipal water treatment or basic filtration systems. The health risks are too significant, and the consequences too severe, to take chances with your family’s water supply.
Investing in advanced water filtration technology, including ultrafiltration and UV treatment systems, provides the multi-layered protection necessary to safeguard against algae-related contaminants. By working with experienced professionals who understand Florida’s unique water challenges, you can ensure that your home remains a safe haven, regardless of what’s happening in our state’s water sources.
Don’t wait for the next red tide outbreak to threaten your family’s health. Take proactive steps today to secure clean, safe water for your home, because when it comes to water quality, prevention is always better than treatment.