Cyanobacteria/Cyanotoxins
Cyanobacteria/Cyanotoxins
Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are photosynthetic bacteria that can live in many types of water. They are important primary producers (organisms that make energy directly from the sun) in aquatic ecosystems. While critical to water and soil resources, excessive cyanobacteria growth can cause ecological and public health concerns, including producing cyanotoxins.
Resources
CyanoTOX® Version 3.0
CyanoTOX® Version 3.0 is an oxidation calculator designed to help utilities evaluate how treatment adjustments (such as pH, oxidant dose, and contact time) may influence degradation of individual cyanotoxins and some groups of cyanotoxins.
The latest version maintains the ability to model the oxidative removal of extracellular toxins under various conditions (three toxins, five oxidants, pH, temp, etc). New in this version is an additional module to model intracellular and extracellular toxins throughout a water treatment plant. New capabilities include release of intracellular toxins, three zones of oxidation, PAC carbon adsorption, settling of solids, biofiltration/GAC, and other features.
Technical Resources
Reports
Manuals
Managing Cyanotoxins in Drinking Water: A Technical Guidance Manual for Drinking Water Professionals
Read the Report
Water Utility Managers Guide To Cyanotoxins
Read the Report
Cyanotoxins in U.S. Drinking Water: Occurrence, Case Studies, and State Approaches to Regulation
Read the Report
Testing Protocols for Site-Specific Oxidation Assessments
Read the Report
Testing Protocols for Site-Specific Powdered Activated Carbon Assessments
Read the Report
Load More
Advertisement
See All Events
Water Quality Technology Conference
Discover the latest science, research, and engineering and solutions to fight drinking water contamination.
November 9-13, 2025
Tacoma, WA
Annual Conference & Expo
The world of water is finite. Find new ways to protect and conserve.
June 21-24, 2026
Washington, D.C.
Related Resources
Source Water Protection
Protecting sources of drinking water is an effective way to reduce risks to public health, instill customer confidence, and control water treatment costs. Addressing water quality concerns at the source also has many other environmental and societal benefits that aren’t seen from treatment alone.
Source Water Protection
M50 Water Resources Planning
This comprehensive, how-to manual and guide demonstrates how to produce a long term Integrated Resource Plan for a water utility. It helps water resources planners develop and implement a comprehensive work plan.
Read More
Watershed Management for Drinking Water Protection
Drinking water quality starts at the watershed. This is a practical guide on watershed management for drinking water providers. Protection of the watershed is the water provider’s first barrier in the multiple-barrier approach to preserving water quality from source to tap.
Read More
External Resources
USEPA Resources on Cyanotoxins in Drinking Water
Water Research Foundation Report: Managing Cyanotoxins
Health Canada: Cyanobacterial Toxins in Drinking Water
World Health Organization: Toxic cyanobacteria in water – A guide to their public health consequences, monitoring and management
Enactment of 2015 Drinking Water Protection Act
AWWA Policy Statements
AWWA’s policy statements are brief statements on protecting and improving water supply, water quality, management, and the interests of the public and the environment. They are written by consensus, subject to review and comment by AWWA committees, councils, and members. Because they represent AWWA’s position on these matters, they are approved by the AWWA Executive Committee of the board of directors.
Technical Committee Engagement
AWWA members are recognized globally for their industry expertise and their generosity in sharing that expertise for a better world through better water. AWWA members participate in committee activities, developing conference programs, writing technical manuals, developing standards, creating educational content, and contributing to AWWA publications. Committee members primarily interact through conference calls, emails, and face-to-face meetings at conferences and events.
Source Water Protection Committee
Source Water Protection Committee
Emerging Water Quality Issues Committee
Advertisement
