Study Findings from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” Update Knowledge in Risk Management (Management of the Risk of Blue-Green Algae Blooms in the Iskar Dam for Drinking Water Quality of Sofia City): Risk Management

2023 NOV 10 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- Investigators publish new report on risk management. According to news reporting originating from Sofia, Bulgaria, by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “The introduction of systems for ensuring quality and safe drinking water and risk management is the World Health Organization (WHO) good practice introduced as a legislative requirement for all water supply organizations (Directive EU 2020/2184) on the quality of water intended for human consumption. A specific object of this research is the implemented risk assessment and management system, part of the drinking water safety plan for Sofia city.”

Financial supporters for this research include Sofiyska Voda Jsc; Clean Technologies For Sustainable Environment-water, Waste, Energy For A Circular Economy; Science And Education For Smart Growth Operational Program; Eu.

Our news reporters obtained a quote from the research from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”: “The water supply system from the water source to the end user, operated by Sofiyska voda JSC and part of Veolia, was analyzed. The hazards and risk events were reviewed for each component of the system-the catchment, water source, supply water pipes, drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) and distribution water network. The results of the risk evaluation show that the risk of an algal bloom falls from medium risk, with a value of 36 in 2018. This risk was new for the Iskar Dam-the main water source for Sofia city. The purpose of the current study is to analyze the risk of blue-green algae blooming and the potential release of toxins in the Iskar Dam. A data analysis of phytoplankton counts, temperature of the water in the dam, precipitation, algal diversity and quantity of microcystins for a period of three years shows that there is a low probability of algae blooming. The concentration of microcystin LR was below 0.6 g/L and of microcystin YR was below 0.1 g/L. The highest phytoplankton count was 70,000 cells/mL in 2018, and it decreased to 30,000 cells/mL in 2020. The impact of the risk of ‘blue-green algae blooms in the Iskar Dam’ is assessed as moderate (3) and that has not changed between 2018 and 2022. The likelihood of occurrence of this risk decreased from possible (3) to unlikely (2) after risk reassessment, and the current control effectiveness changed from weakly controlled (4) in 2018 to well controlled (2) in 2022, because more risk management actions were included in Sofiyska voda JSC. The results of the risk evaluation show that the risk of an algal bloom falls into the low-risk category with a value of 12, after measures were considered and a reassessment. As a preventive measure for better management and risk minimization, it is necessary to continue monitoring the phytoplankton count, species composition, concentration of algae toxins (microcystin LR) and nutrients in raw water from the Iskar Dam.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “This research has added value to the global database for surface water sources intended for human consumption and is focuses on a potential problem, valid for agricultural as well as for urban territories rich in diffused sources of pollution. The specific risk evaluation and management steps could be used and adapted by other water supply companies.”

For more information on this research see: Management of the Risk of Blue-Green Algae Blooms in the Iskar Dam for Drinking Water Quality of Sofia City. Processes, 2023,11(2972):2972. (Processes - https://www.mdpi.com/journal/processes). The publisher for Processes is MDPI AG.

A free version of this journal article is available at https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11102972.

Our news journalists report that more information may be obtained by contacting Margita Aleksova, Department of General and Applied Hydrobiology, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria. Additional authors for this research include Irina Schneider, Seniha Velisha, Eya Prodanova.

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