Incident Management Level Consequences of Bloom Control Monitoring Required Field Actions Communication (and characteristics of blooms) Agency Required Response 1 May have waterway environmental or Water Routine cell count None Inform DEPI Minor potential public health impacts. Manager monitoring Inform Regional Can be dealt with by on site resources of a Visual Observations Co-ordinator Bloom detected and single agency of extent and 0.2 mm3/L Biovolume There is no adverse publicity, injury, or potential for off-site ≥ environmental impacts contamination No involvement of the Emergency Services 2 Adverse publicity Local Water Increase monitoring Erect Signs on Inform DHS Moderate May have waterway environmental or Manager BGA cell counts Site Inform DEPI potential public health impacts. (frequency) Inform Regional 4 mm3/L BioVolume Toxic BGA or Can be dealt with by on site resources of a Toxicity testing Co-ordinator ≥ >50,000 cells/ml Microcystis single agency Visual Observations Notify other aeroginosa or of extent and concerned >10 mm3/L BioVolume Total BGA potential for off-site agencies contamination Inform Press and and users One location 3 Adverse publicity Regional Increase monitoring Erect Signs on Inform DHS Major Could involve substantial risk of serious BGA cell counts Site Inform DEPI injury or death, may have serious (frequency and Alter Inform Regional 4 mm3/L BioVolume Toxic BGA or environmental impacts, or could have public locations) management to Co-ordinator ≥ >50,000 Microcystis health implications. Toxicity testing avoid BGA Notify other aeroginosa or Executive level management of the issues Visual Observations Alter treatment concerned >10 mm3/L BioVolume Total BGA and implications that may flow from the of extent and to reduce risk agencies event. potential for off-site Inform Press and and the resources of multiple agencies to contamination users Many Locations deal with issues and actions Inform Public The actions suggested here are intended to guide the response to blue-green algae. Due to the varying toxicity and treatment of different blue-green algae species, each individual case will require an investigation and action plan.
Incident Management Level (and characteristics of blooms) Consequences of Bloom Control Agency Monitoring Required Field Actions Required Communication Response 1 Minor Bloom detected and ≥ 0.2 mm3/L Biovolume May have waterway environmental or potential public health impacts. Can be dealt with by on site resources of a single agency There is no adverse publicity, injury, or environmental impacts No involvement of the Emergency Services Water Manager Routine cell count monitoring Visual Observations of extent and potential for off-site contamination None Inform DEPI Inform Regional Co-ordinator 2 Moderate ≥ 4 mm3/L BioVolume Toxic BGA or >50,000 cells/ml Microcystis aeroginosa or >10 mm3/L BioVolume Total BGA and One location Adverse publicity May have waterway environmental or potential public health impacts. Can be dealt with by on site resources of a single agency Local Water Manager Increase monitoring BGA cell counts (frequency) Toxicity testing Visual Observations of extent and potential for off-site contamination Erect Signs on Site Inform DHS Inform DEPI Inform Regional Co-ordinator Notify other concerned agencies Inform Press and users 3 Major ≥ 4 mm3/L BioVolume Toxic BGA or >50,000 Microcystis aeroginosa or >10 mm3/L BioVolume Total BGA and Many Locations Adverse publicity Could involve substantial risk of serious injury or death, may have serious environmental impacts, or could have public health implications. Executive level management of the issues and implications that may flow from the event. the resources of multiple agencies to deal with issues and actions Regional Increase monitoring BGA cell counts (frequency and locations) Toxicity testing Visual Observations of extent and potential for off-site contamination Erect Signs on Site Alter management to avoid BGA Alter treatment to reduce risk Inform DHS Inform DEPI Inform Regional Co-ordinator Notify other concerned agencies Inform Press and users Inform Public The actions suggested here are intended to guide the response to blue-green algae. Due to the varying toxicity and treatment of different blue-green algae species, each individual case will require an investigation and action plan.
Sample-BGA-Risk-Managment-Plan-2014.docx