The Middle East Desalination Research Centre (MEDRC) is calling on the desalination industry to submit case studies that might be included in a guidance manual on marine algal blooms.
The manual will include “strategies and pretreatment methods, particularly in seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) plants, to treat the increased suspended solids and organic loads associated with harmful algal blooms (HABs),” said MEDRC. The research body said case studies from around the world and from thermal as well as SWRO desalination plants were required.
MEDRC said the manual would include discussions on risk assessment frameworks to ensure drinking water safety is maintained in the face of a toxic marine HAB along with HAB management response plans.
People wishing to contribute should contact Kevin Price (mkevinprice@medrc.org) at MEDRC. Don Anderson, Siobhan Boerlage, and Mike Dixon will edit the manual.
The manual will accompany a MEDRC-led international research project to develop capabilities for remote sensing, modelling, and forecasting to inform desalination plants of the presence and transport pathways of HABs. This current pilot project is focused on the Arabian Gulf and Sea of Oman region and is led by Don Anderson.