WATCH: Israeli company successfully treats Roodeplaat Dam against toxic algae blooms
Roodeplaat Dam has a surface area of 439 hectares and was initially constructed in 1956, as an irrigation dam but developed into an important water source for the northern areas of Pretoria.
Blue Green Water Technologies Ltd (BlueGreen), a global cleantech company, has announced it has successfully completed a strategic intervention against toxic cyanobacteria in Roodeplaat Dam.
The privately-owned company is based in Tel Aviv, Israel, and dedicated to developing novel solutions to water-related problems.
“We pride ourselves in protecting the world’s scarcest and most essential element: water,” said BlueGreen Founder and CTO Dr Moshe Harel.
“The success of BlueGreen’s treatment, around the world, and now in the Roodeplaat Dam spells a renewed hope to the region. The South African water authorities have taken a brave and necessary first step to improve the quality and availability of water in South Africa and we are proud to take part in this important quest.”
Following the company’s application of its proprietary algaecide, Lake Guard™ Oxy, water quality tests and satellite images indicate a clear and significant drop in levels of toxic cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae.
Such algae has been growing exponentially in Roodeplaat Dam and is considered a health threat to both humans and animals.
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The Roodeplaat Dam treatment is one of several emergency interventions deployed by BlueGreen around the globe.
The floating, time-releasing Lake Guard particles are naturally propelled by the forces of winds and currents, while selectively eliminating toxic algae blooms in the water, irrespective of size or shape.
The product triggers a selective biological programmed cell death within the general toxic cyanobacteria populations causing them to collapse.
It is based on sodium percarbonate that releases hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as its active ingredient, an environmental approach that leaves no trace in the water.
The Lake Guard products are approved by the US EPA and are certified by the NSF/ANSI/CAN-60 standard for treatment in drinking water.
Roodeplaat Dam is a concrete arch dam with an approximate surface area of 439 hectares (4.39 km2/1 100 acres).
It was initially constructed in 1956 as an irrigation dam but developed into an important water source for the northern areas of Pretoria.
Soon after its establishment, the dam gained popularity for recreational purposes and to this day is regarded as the best rowing venue in South Africa.
Pollution and drought have caused South Africa’s water resources to drop to an all-time low, contributing to the spiraling of toxic algal blooms out of control.
“Our technology is receiving a lot of attention from stakeholders all over the world. They have come to recognise the enormity of the humanitarian, environmental and economic threat presented by toxic algae blooms,” said BlueGreen CMO Maayan Nave.
“At a time when the world is muscling an effective response against the Covid-19 pandemic, we are hopeful to see a similar approach taken against the fast-growing global distribution and frequency of toxic algal blooms”.
