A Cyanotoxin Primer for Drinking Water Professionals

Cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins became an emerging issue for the drinking water industry in 1998 by appearing in the first US Environmental Protection Agency drinking water Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 1). Before CCL, cyanotoxin contaminants did not fit into the two prevailing paradigms: synthetic chemicals and pathogens. Cyanotoxins added a new paradigm: natural chemical toxins. Driven by anthropogenic influences, nutrient loading, and climate change, cyanobacterial blooms are increasing in frequency and distribution. To efficiently produce potable water from a source impacted by a toxic cyanobacterial bloom, drinking water practitioners need to take a multidisciplinary approach. Bloom dynamics (biology), surrogate and analytical methods (chemistry), inactivation/removal of intra- and extracellular toxins and multibarrier treatment (engineering), and risk management (public health) must all be part of a comprehensive management strategy. This article provides a holistic primer for water professionals on cyanotoxin treatment and management using pertinent literature, technical sources, case studies, and experience.