AWWA WQTC64012

Various on-line emerging sensors, based on the optical analysis by fluorescence of the chlorophyll-a pigment (the most reliable indicator of algal quantity) or the phycocyanin pigment (the most specific pigment of cyanobacteria) were tested during five months. The test was carried out on a raw water strongly loaded with algae and cyanobacteria. It appears that the on-line measurement of these pigments do not provide the reliability of labscale analysis, in terms of counting and identification of algae. However, these measurements provide the operator with some important information for adapting treatment conditions to water quality variations: fast and direct indications on the evolution of the biomass and the blooms intensity. Two sensors can be integrated into a monitoring regime to give warning on algae blooms. Includes table, figures.