Shreveport’s New Strategy to Combat Algae Blooms

News Summary

The T.L. Amiss Water Treatment Plant in Shreveport, LA is enhancing its efforts to tackle algae blooms impacting local drinking water quality. With unusual algae growth in Cross Lake causing off-putting tastes and odors, the city is implementing year-round treatments, including copper sulfate and ozone. Recent supply shortages caused by weather disruptions have been rectified, allowing for improved water quality. Residents are encouraged to report any ongoing issues as the city commits to providing cleaner drinking water in response to these challenges.

Shreveport Tackles Algae Blooms with New Water Treatments!

In the vibrant city of Shreveport, Louisiana, the local Water Treatment Plant is putting extra effort into keeping your drinking water fresh and clean by stepping up its game against pesky algae blooms. The T.L. Amiss Water Treatment Plant has been through quite a bit lately and is now armed with new strategies to tackle the challenges posed by these unusual growths.

What’s Happening with Cross Lake?

It all began with some unexpected algae blooms in Cross Lake. You might think algae is just a normal part of a lake, but these blooms are causing some quite unpleasant taste and smell issues in the drinking water. These algae blooms are definitely atypical for this time of year, particularly in December, leaving residents grappling with the odd flavor and odor that many folks traced back to a compound called geosmin, which is produced by algae. It’s safe to say, not everyone is thrilled to sip on water that smells like the lake!

Water Safety Comes First!

Shreveport’s Water and Sewerage Department has been working tirelessly to assure residents that their drinking water remains safe to consume. However, they also acknowledge that there have been noticeable quality issues amidst these algae challenges. Typically, during the cooler months, the city would treat Cross Lake with copper sulfate to counteract the geosmin, but with unusual warm weather extending algae growth, the demand for copper sulfate shot up in November, and the supplies started running low.

Weather Woes and Treatment Delays

What’s more, heavy snow in southern Louisiana threw a wrench in the city’s plans to restock copper sulfate, exacerbating the quality issues even further. This meant that residents had to endure unsatisfactory water while the city scrambled to find a solution. Thankfully, a fresh shipment of copper sulfate arrived late last week, allowing the treatment to continue and improve the water quality swiftly.

New Year-Round Treatment Standard?

Ozone Treatment and Monitoring

In addition to using copper sulfate, the T.L. Amiss Water Treatment Plant employs ozone as part of its disinfection process. While they have tried increasing the ozone application to tackle the algae issues, it hasn’t been enough on its own. To ensure that the water remains top-notch, the city is conducting sample testing and taste evaluations at the plant to keep tabs on the effectiveness of their strategies.

Residents Stay Informed!

For the folks living in Shreveport, if you’re still encountering taste or odor problems, you’re encouraged to reach out to the Department of Water and Sewerage. They want to hear from you, so your concerns can be addressed promptly!

Conclusion: Here’s to Cleaner Drinking Water!

All in all, Shreveport is committed to improving its water quality despite the unexpected algae blooms. With the implementation of year-round treatments and continuous monitoring, residents can hold onto hope for a fresher, cleaner drinking water experience ahead!

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Additional Resources

• Shreveport Bossier Advocate
• KTBS
• KSLA
• KTAL News
• Shreveport Times
• Wikipedia: Algae bloom
• Google Search: Shreveport water quality issues
• Google Scholar: water treatment algae
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Algae
• Google News: Shreveport water treatment