Joint research project CYAQUATA

CYAQUATA - Study of the interrelation between toxin-producing cyanobacteria and water quality in reservoirs and development of a sustainable management strategy

Project life span: 06/2015 - 05/2018

Guideline Joint research project CYAQUATA

Funding: Federal Ministry of Education and Research BMBF (support code: 033W043A), Projektträger Jülich

Funding measure ReWaM: https://www.fona.de/de/16702
https://bmbf.nawam-rewam.de

Funding priority NaWaM: https://www.fona.de/de/19767
FONA: http://www.fona.de/

Background and Goals

The joint research project CYAQUATA studies the interrelation between the occurrence of toxin-producing cyanobacteria and the water quality in reservoirs. One key goal of the project is the development of a sustainable management strategy in consideration of changing environmental conditions.
A prevailing problem consists in the continual increase in planktonic cyanobacteria in reservoirs, which may be an effect of climate change. Cyanobacteria can produce toxic substances (cyanotoxins) that significantly impact the use of the reservoirs as drinking and process water supplies, and as bathing sites. Using field investigations and laboratory experiments, the main limnological and hydrochemical factors for the mass development of cyanobacteria (“blooms”) shall be identified and consequential counteractive measures derived. Therefore, methods for the quantification and differentiation of cyanobacteria, the analytical determination of cyanotoxins, and the risk assessment of cyanobacteria mass developments have to be adopted and further developed. Five reservoirs in Saxony (Saidenbach, Neunzehnhain, Gottleuba, Quitzdorf, Radeburg II) of different trophic level and use were chosen as model regions.
With the help of insights gained during the project, sustainable solutions for safely controlling cyanobacteria shall be made available to the responsible authorities.

Press release CYAQUATA (only available in German)

Project partners

Technische Universität Dresden, Institute of Water Chemistry (Coordination)
Contact:     Prof. Dr. Eckhard Worch (Project leader)
                    Dr. Hilmar Börnick
                    Dr. Kristin Zoschke, Tel. +49 351 463 34967

Technische Universität Dresden, Neunzehnhain Ecological Station
Contact:     Dr. Lothar Paul
                    M. Sc. Henrike Beesk

Sächsisches Landesamt für Umwelt, Landwirtschaft und Geologie
Contact: M. Sc. Anne Hartmann
                    M. Sc. Sandra Schneider

German Environment Agency Bad Elster
Contact:    Dr. Tamara Grummt
                    Ralf Junek

Cyano Biotech GmbH Berlin www.cyano-biotech.com
Contact:    Dr. Wolfram Lorenzen, Tel.: +49 30 639 24485

Associate Partners:
Landestalsperrenverwaltung des Freistaates Sachsen
BD Biosciences Heidelberg
Arbeitsgemeinschaft Trinkwassertalsperren e.V.

News

ReWaM newsletter about the monitoring programme within CYAQUATA (only available in German)
ReWaM Redefluss with K. Kuhn (LfULG) (only available in German)

Dates and Events

21.08.2015          Kick-off-Meeting Cyaquata in Pirna
10./11.11.2015   Kick-off-Meeting of the funding measure ReWaM in Koblenz
01.03.2016          Workshop at the Landesamt für Umwelt, Landwirtschaft und Geologie,
                             Dresden
02.-04.05.2016   Annual Meeting of the German Water Chemistry Society , Bamberg,
                             Wasser 2016
26.-30.09.2016 Annual Meeting of the German Society of Limnology, Wien, dgl2016

Examined reservoirs

In collaboration with the Landestalsperrenverwaltung Sachsen, samples are regularly taken from five reservoirs in Saxony: Saidenbach, Neunzehnhain II, Gottleuba, Quitzdorf, Radeburg II.