Microcystin Detected at Columbus Water Treatment Plant

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The algae toxin microcystin has recently been detected in raw water input at the Dublin Road Water treatment plant, per an article recently published by the Columbus Dispatch. The article states microcystin was detected in untreated water at 1 ppb on Aug. 28th and 0.97ppb on Aug. 31st, each below the EPA's safety threshold. Importantly, water treated at the plant had no detectable amounts of microcystin present. Nevertheless, the presence of microcystin in raw water implicates the presence of the blue-green algae, marking the first time these microbes have been observed at the Dublin Road Water Treatment Plant. The same blue-green algae have been responsible for producing microcystin-loaded harmful algae blooms (HAB's) across the state. In 2014 HAB's produced enough microcystin in western Lake Erie the city of Toledo was forced to cut off water service to more that 500,000 citizens.