Water, Nature and Humankind : Korea Water Webzine

K-water Focus ②
High-tech algal bloom control
Algal bloom thrives in the sweltering heat. What is algal bloom? Why does it happen? Here is how K-water controls algal bloom.
Text by Yeong-eun Kim Photos by K-water

Algal Bloom in Summer

By the time the flood-prone wet season is over and the sweltering heat wave strikes in earnest, rivers start to turn green with ‘algal blooms’ nationwide. Algal bloom is a rapid growth of microscopic algae in water. Once algal bloom occurs, the water turns dark green. Recently, increasing pollution makes algae grow faster, causing excessive algal blooms, which poses a disruptive social problem. Amid this backdrop, K-water has been exerting diverse efforts to reduce algal blooms with a focus on areas particularly prone to algal bloom in the summer. An algal bloom response system has been put in place in collaboration with other related organizations including the Ministry of Environment. K-water uses 4th Industrial Revolution technology, including AI, to monitor and remove algal blooms particularly in Nakdonggang River.

K-water together with other related organizations has conducted joint inspections on sources of pollution caused in the aftermath of bouts of flooding to reduce floating debris and algal blooms occurring in dams. K-water analyzes satellite images and drone-filmed videos to monitor algal blooms in a broader area, and promptly sends ‘Eco Robot’, an unmanned, autonomous-driving algal bloom-removing robot enabled by AI to areas affected by algal bloom for eradication. Accumulated monitoring data is used to create an algal bloom forecast model for managing and analyzing algal blooms. An algal bloom-reduction facility is operated at the sites prone to algal blooms to curb the growth of algae at the early phase of algal bloom, and a water circulation device is run in the event stratification occurs or turbid water flows in. An algal bloom-removing boat is used to get rid of algal bloom, if necessary. K-water plans to build a prompt and effective response system to reduce algal blooms.