Baltimore City adopts a proactive approach to zebra mussel control using potassium permanganate
- Baltimore City of Public Works, MD (United States)
- KCI Technologies, Inc., Hunt Valley, MD (United States)
- Baltimore City Bureau of Water and Waster Water, MD (United States); and others
In 1992, The Baltimore City Department of Public Works initiated aggressive, proactive measures to guard against the infiltration of zebra mussels into local reservoirs and river supplies, which provide raw and finished water to more than 1.6 million people in the City and five neighboring counties. After months of detailed study and planning, Baltimore City appropriated $3.66 million in July 1994 to construct zebra mussel control facilities. Three of the structures will house units that inject controlled doses of potassium permanganate into water intake pipes located in the Liberty and Loch Raven reservoirs and the Susquehanna River. In the event the zebra mussel makes its way into Maryland waters, the chemical would create a hostile environment for the mollusk preventing the mussels` colonization in the more than 20 miles of water tunnels that lead to area filtration plants. Though chlorine is preferred chemical for control in other municipalities, studies indicate that chlorine by-products, known as trihalomethanes, would near or exceed future Environmental Protection Agency standards (a maximum of 80 parts per billion) for drinking water. Consequently, it was decided to use potassium permanganate as the primary control chemical, with chlorine as an emergency backup. In addition, the City plans to construct a thermal control system as the Prettyboy reservoir intake to control the mussel threat without harming the thriving trout population found downstream from the dam. Baltimore City officials have also spearheaded a program using innovative posters to heighten public awareness to the potential harm that can result from the careless transportation of zebra mussels from infested to uninhabited waters. The City`s actions have helped ensure protected waters for Maryland residents and reduced the need for additional public spending to defend against the stealthy intruder.
- Research Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 146943
- Report Number(s):
- EPRI-TR--105116; CONF-9502124--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Chlorine dioxide treatment for zebra mussel control
Zebra mussel control using periodic chlorine dioxide treatments