Freshwater Algal Blooms and Their Control: Comparison of the European and Australian Experience

Freshwater algal blooms have become an important water quality problem in Europe and Australia. Countries such as Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Italy and The Netherlands have experienced severe algal blooms (Anabaena,Microcystisetc.). These have caused considerable losses in recreation opportunities, expenses to provide alternative water supplies and deaths among livestock. Most of the phosphorus in European waters derives from point sources such as sewage plants, livestock industries and detergents. In Australia non-point sources from agriculture and other sources are more important. The emphasis in controlling algal blooms in Europe as well as in Australia is on phosphorus removal in wastewater by upgrading sewage plants and installing new sewage processing facilities. In Europe control of detergent phosphorus has also received emphasis but in Australia detergent problems are largely ignored. The attention to the use of economic measures to control phosphorus is inadequate in both Europe and Australia, but Europe is still ahead of Australia.