Explore our range of algae monitoring solutions

Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) are naturally occurring photosynthetic bacteria that can rapidly multiply in lakes, reservoirs, rivers, ponds, and estuaries when conditions are warm, nutrient-rich, and relatively stagnant. Excessive growth can form harmful algal blooms that degrade water quality, deplete dissolved oxygen, and in some cases produce toxins that pose risks to human health, livestock, wildlife, and aquatic ecosystems.
From a water management perspective, blue-green algae blooms can disrupt drinking water supplies, irrigation, recreation, aquaculture, and industrial water use, making early monitoring and detection an important part of managing water bodies.

So what solutions can HydroTerra offer for Blue-green algae monitoring and treatment?

Water Quality Sondes:

 

HydroTerra offer a range of sondes and handheld water quality meters for in-situ measurement of Blue-green algae. We include solutions from Aquaread, NKE and Solinst Eureka. The most common sensor options are:

• Phycocyanin (PC) sensors for freshwater blue-green algae
• Phycoerythrin (PE) sensors for brackish and marine algal species
• Chlorophyll-a sensors for measuring overall algal biomass

These sensors can be deployed for spot measurements, long-term monitoring, telemetry networks, and even buoy installations.

 

HydraSpectra Early Warning System:

HydraSpectra is an above-water optical water-quality monitoring system that continuously measures the spectral reflectance of a water surface to provide early warning of algal blooms and other water-quality changes. HydroTerra is now a licensee and commercialisation partner for the technology. To identify bloom conditions before blooms become visible, the system combines:

• Satellite observations
• Surface spectral reflectance measurements
• In-water monitoring

 

HydraSpectra uses a solid-state spectrometer to measure reflected light across the visible and near-infrared spectrum. By analysing spectral signatures, it can estimate:

• Chlorophyll and algal biomass
• Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae)
• Suspended sediment
• Water colour
• Other optical water-quality indicators

 

The system collects measurements approximately every 15 minutes during daylight hours, providing a continuous record rather than relying solely on periodic manual sampling.

Active Algae Treatment Systems: Hydro BioScience Quattro-DB® Ultrasonic Algae Control

 

This is a chemical-free algae and biofilm management system that uses patented ultrasonic technology to suppress algae growth in lakes, reservoirs, ponds, lagoons, wastewater facilities, clarifiers, and water storage systems. The system emits thousands of ultrasonic frequencies in a 360-degree pattern, disrupting algae cell function and preventing bloom development without the use of chemicals.

Key features include:

• Patented 360° ultrasonic coverage with no dead zones.
• More than 20,000 ultrasonic frequencies organized across multiple bandwidths for effective treatment of a wide range of algae species.
• Low power consumption with AC or solar-powered operation options.
• Proven control of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), green algae, diatoms, and biofilm in thousands of installations worldwide.
• Suitable as a standalone installation or integrated into Hydro BioScience’s SolaRaft-iQDB™ monitoring and remediation platform.

If you have an algae problem that needs monitoring, please reach out to one of our technical experts.

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