Research continues on zebra mussel control

Journal Article · Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1993 · Hydro Review; (United States)

OSTI ID:6640800

Researchers are working on many fronts to learn methods for controlling and combatting zebra mussels, a species of mussel that can attach to the inside of water intakes at hydroelectric and thermal power plants, and can reduce or block water flow. Biologists at the University of Toledo in Ohio report that compounds from the African soapberry plant called lemmatoxins are lethal to zebra mussels. In laboratory tests, researchers have determined 1 to 2 milligrams of purified lemmatoxins per liter will kill the mussels. In field tests, biologist Harold Lee flushed water through a mussel-infested pipe. He found that the berry extract killed mussels in four to eight hours, making continuous treatment of water intake pipes unnecessary, according to a report in New Scientists. The University of Toledo participated in another project, funded by the American Water Works Association Research Foundation. That project team included the cities of Toledo and Cleveland, Ohio, Finkbeiner, Pettis Strout, Ltd. consulting engineers, and researchers from Ohio's Case Western Reserve University. The team identified a chemical oxidant, sodium hypochlorite, as a cost-effective agent for controlling zebra mussels at water treatment plant intakes. Toledo has used the sodium hypochlorite and reports the chemical has cleared colonies of zebra mussels that had attached to the intake of its water treatment plant.

• OSTI ID: 6640800
• Journal Information: Hydro Review; (United States), Vol. 12:2; ISSN 0884-0385
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

13 HYDRO ENERGY
HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
INTAKE STRUCTURES
FLOW BLOCKAGE
MUSSELS
REMOVAL
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
HYPOCHLOROUS ACID
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
TOXINS
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ANIMALS
ANTIGENS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
INVERTEBRATES
MATERIALS
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
MOLLUSCS
POWER PLANTS
TOXIC MATERIALS
130600* - Hydro Energy- Environmental Aspects