--- title: Ultrasonic sound waves help manage algae description: Seqwater is investigating the use of ultrasonic technology as an environmentally-friendly and cost-effective blue green algae management measure. --- [![Indigo by AWA logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Indigo_colour.png?height=24&name=Indigo_colour.png)](https://indigo.awa.asn.au/) [![Ozwater logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Ozwater.png?height=24&name=Ozwater.png)](https://www.ozwater.org/) [![Careers in Water logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Careers%20in%20Water_colour.png?height=24&name=Careers%20in%20Water_colour.png)](https://www.careersinwater.com.au/) [![NWW logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/NWW.png?height=24&name=NWW.png)](https://www.nationalwaterweek.org/) - [Join ![user icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-nav-user-icon.svg "user icon")](https://www.awa.asn.au/new-registration) - [Member Hub ![user icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-nav-locked-icon.svg "user icon")](https://memberhub.awa.asn.au) - 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[ Upcoming Events ](https://www.awa.asn.au/upcoming-events) - [ Events Calendar ](https://www.awa.asn.au/national-events-calendar) - [ Ozwater ](https://www.awa.asn.au/events/ozwater) - [ Photo Gallery ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/133291504@N03/albums) - [ Awards ](https://www.awa.asn.au/awards) Show submenu for Awards ![Plus icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-menu-plus-icon.svg) ![Plus icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-menu-minus-icon.svg) - [ Awards Overview ](https://www.awa.asn.au/awards) - [ Individual Awards ](https://www.awa.asn.au/awards-individual) - [ Chris Davis AM Fellowship ](https://www.awa.asn.au/chris-davis-am-fellowship) - [ Guy Parker Award ](https://www.awa.asn.au/guy-parker-award) - [ Organisation Awards ](https://www.awa.asn.au/awards-organisation) - [ Student Awards ](https://www.awa.asn.au/student-awards) - [ Australian Stockholm Junior Water Prize ](https://www.awa.asn.au/awards/student-awards/asjwp) - 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Seqwater Catchment Water Quality Advisor Renee Hague said potential taste and blue green [algae species](https://watersource.awa.asn.au/technology/innovation/new-testing-method-can-stop-toxic-algae-blooms-in-their-tracks/) are present in most South East Queensland dams all year round. “Water Treatment Plant processes make sure the drinking water supplied to customers is safe and of high standards. However, taste and odour may still be present in drinking water following algae blooms,’’ Hague said. “Our dams contain complex ecosystems alive with fish and other aquatic species, including different types of algae. “Many of our dams are seasonally affected by the growth of these algae, which thrives in warm, dry conditions and when water in the catchment has high nutrient levels causing a bloom. “When this occurs, blue green algae blooms can produce and release harmless natural compounds that can create a musty and earthy taste and odour.’’ There have been several algae blooms over the past few years that have directly impacted taste in some of the Sunshine Coast’s drinking water supply, Hague said. [Seqwater](https://www.seqwater.com.au/) has engaged algal control specialists to investigate the use of ultrasonic technology as an environmentally-friendly and cost-effective blue green algae management measure. Hague said the technology uses two [solar-powered](https://watersource.awa.asn.au/business/assets-and-operations/melbourne-water-seeks-solar-power-partners/) units emitting ultrasonic sound waves to inhibit the algae from forming intense blooms. “The ultrasound waves create a sound layer in the top layer of water that directly impacts on the buoyancy of the algae. The algae cells sink to the bottom, where they are unable to photosynthesise and eventually die due to lack of light,” she said. Hague said the success of the trial could result in significant savings to water treatment costs and improved drinking water quality for customers. “During the trial period, weekly samples taken from Poona Dam, showed a dramatic decline in [taste and odour compounds](https://watersource.awa.asn.au/technology/innovation/student-combines-sugar-and-shells-to-filter-contaminated-water/) in the dam,” she said. “As a result, we’ve integrated the permanent use of this technology at Poona Dam, with the potential of rolling out these units at other Seqwater dams prone to blue green algae blooms.” [ Innovation ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/innovation) [ Blue-Green Algae ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/blue-green-algae) [ Algae ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/algae) [ Seqwater ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/seqwater) [ Solar ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/solar) Share [![email icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-email.svg "email icon") ](mailto:?subject=Ultrasonic%20sound%20waves%20help%20manage%20algae&body=Check%20out%20https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/technology/innovation/ultrasonic-sound-waves-manage-algae) [![facebook-icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-facebook.svg "facebook icon") ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/technology/innovation/ultrasonic-sound-waves-manage-algae) [![LinkedIn icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-linkedin.svg "LinkedIn icon") ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/technology/innovation/ultrasonic-sound-waves-manage-algae) [![Twitter icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-twitter.svg "Twitter icon") ](https://twitter.com/home?status=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/technology/innovation/ultrasonic-sound-waves-manage-algae) ## RELATED NEWS ### [ Algae bioreactors create cost-cutting benefits for wastewater treatment process ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/technology/innovation/algae-bioreactors-create-cost-cutting-benefits-for-wastewater-treatment-process) Water Source Queensland Urban Utilities, in partnership with global technology provision company KBR, have completed the early stages of an… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/technology/innovation/algae-bioreactors-create-cost-cutting-benefits-for-wastewater-treatment-process) ### [ Is algae the key to greener sewage treatment in regional areas? ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/technology/research/is-algae-the-key-to-greener-sewage-treatment-in-regional-areas) Water Source A new initiative aimed at harnessing the power of sewage-munching algae could transform wastewater treatment in regional and rural… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/technology/research/is-algae-the-key-to-greener-sewage-treatment-in-regional-areas) [![](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/qaehs-kevin-thomas.jpg?width=352&name=qaehs-kevin-thomas.jpg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/technology/research/queensland-wastewater-sampling-research-partnership-receives-two-year-extension) ### [ Queensland wastewater sampling research partnership receives two-year extension ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/technology/research/queensland-wastewater-sampling-research-partnership-receives-two-year-extension) Cecilia Harris A partnership between Queensland Health and The University of Queensland’s world-leading Queensland Alliance for Environmental… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/technology/research/queensland-wastewater-sampling-research-partnership-receives-two-year-extension) Advertising --- ### Subscribe to our newsletters Sign up to get the latest news and insights from us Advertising --- ![white arrow pointing upwards](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-white-arrow-up.svg) Top [![Footer-logo-02](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/Footer-logo-02.svg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/) The **Australian Water Association** acknowledges the Traditional Custodians across Australia, where we live, work and play, for their deep connection to our precious waters and land. 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