For generations, Lake Taihu, China’s third largest freshwater lake in Wuni, Jiangsu Province, has provided a home and livelihood for over two million people. By way of contrast, in late May, 2007, a drinking water crisis took place following a massive bloom of the toxin producing cyanobacteria Microcystis spp. in Lake Taihu.2 Ultimately, due to unusual growth of algae, the lake digressed to completely green. Local reports say algae density is 38% higher than it was in 2016.
Lake Taihu was known for its vast wildlife and agriculture. Which explains why It is the source of economic dependence of most of the citizens surrounding it. Regrettably, run off agriculture is a major source of pollution. In fact, feed and excessive nutrients are the principal …show more content…
On May 11, 2007 in efforts to resolve the rapid blooming in the lake, both management decided on diverting water from the Yangtze River to Lake Taihu. Yangtze River water was pumped through the gates at Changshu and channeled through the Wangyu River gate and discharged into Gonghu Bay.2 Although this decision promoted water to be flushed from the lake, enforcing a stable water current, there were underlying negative effects. Furthermore, the diversion helped create a stable water current which transported the concentrated agglomerates to the Wuxi city drinking water plant intake.2
The discovery of contamination in the water came about after six water samples containing agglomerates were collected around the intake by boat on the afternoon of June 1, 2007. Concentrations of chemical oxygen demand, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a samples came back up to 10 times the normal values usually observed in Taihu.2 On June 3, 2007, spatial distributions of these same chemical concentrations were examined. Peak concentrations of each were about 3–5 times the average concentrations for that time of the year in
Lake Taihu was known for its vast wildlife and agriculture. Which explains why It is the source of economic dependence of most of the citizens surrounding it. Regrettably, run off agriculture is a major source of pollution. In fact, feed and excessive nutrients are the principal …show more content…
On May 11, 2007 in efforts to resolve the rapid blooming in the lake, both management decided on diverting water from the Yangtze River to Lake Taihu. Yangtze River water was pumped through the gates at Changshu and channeled through the Wangyu River gate and discharged into Gonghu Bay.2 Although this decision promoted water to be flushed from the lake, enforcing a stable water current, there were underlying negative effects. Furthermore, the diversion helped create a stable water current which transported the concentrated agglomerates to the Wuxi city drinking water plant intake.2
The discovery of contamination in the water came about after six water samples containing agglomerates were collected around the intake by boat on the afternoon of June 1, 2007. Concentrations of chemical oxygen demand, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a samples came back up to 10 times the normal values usually observed in Taihu.2 On June 3, 2007, spatial distributions of these same chemical concentrations were examined. Peak concentrations of each were about 3–5 times the average concentrations for that time of the year in