Nutrient pollution—particularly from nitrogen and phosphorus—poses a serious threat to our drinking water supply. These excess nutrients, often introduced through agricultural runoff, wastewater, lawn fertilizers, and industrial discharge, stimulate rapid algae growth that overwhelms natural ecosystems. The result is harmful algal blooms (HABs), which degrade water quality, fuel bacterial outbreaks, and pose significant health risks to people, pets, and wildlife. Protecting drinking water from these blooms is a top priority for utilities around the world. Beyond health concerns, these blooms can clog intake pipes, foul filtration systems, and generate taste and odor issues that are expensive to correct. Local economies suffer too—recreation, tourism, and property values all decline when lakes and reservoirs are overtaken by algae. In some regions, entire drinking water supplies have been temporarily shut down due to algal toxins. The longer the issue is left unaddressed, the more costly and complex it becomes to reverse.

Drinking water treatment plant operators work hard to ensure they provide their communities safe, algae-free drinking water. They are also responsible for the physical effects of clogged or damaged infrastructure, such as pipes and filters. Historically, operators have relied heavily on filtration, the application of algaecides, and the placement of aeration devices on reservoirs to increase oxygen levels to assist with the decomposition of vegetation and nutrients, which helps reduce the food supply for algae. While chemicals can kill algae quickly and effectively, there are harmful side effects to the environment.