Closing in on problems at Meander Reservoir

Taste and odor troubles should be studied for another year, a YSU professor recommended.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
MINERAL RIDGE -- Low water levels in the fall and ice and nutrients filtered into the system by runoff from the surrounding watershed are thought to contribute to taste and odor problems that plagued the Meander Reservoir in the past.
Last year, directors of the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District hired Youngstown State University to study the reservoir's water.
The water study contract was for $14,126. Another contract with the university, for $21,565, is to develop an overlay of the area surrounding the reservoir to identify a land-use pattern.
The problem: In 1999, taste and odor problems plagued the reservoir, causing a flood of complaints from customers and politicians.
The problem was attributed to synura, a type of cold-water algae, and was reduced with some temporary changes in the chemicals used to treat the water. Warmer temperatures eliminated the problem.
Scott C. Martin, professor and chairman of the university's civil/environmental and chemical engineering department, said the problem initially was thought to stem from nutrients that were produced from sediments in the reservoir.
But that hypothesis was debunked, he said. Most of the nutrients enter the reservoir from runoff from the watershed rather than from the sediments.
Observations: Officials from the university department monitored conditions in the reservoir weekly from Dec. 21, 2000, to April 4 this year to determine what causes the synura blooms.
"The growth of algae seems to accelerate after runoff events in midwinter," Martin said. "Increasing levels of light as the ice melted is the primary thing causing the algae to grow."
Not all of the conditions thought ideal for algae growth existed during the last year. The reservoir water level was not low during the fall.
"This year, we had the low water levels in the fall, but we may not have the ice cover," Martin said.
He suggested that the monitoring be continued for another year.
David Tabak, district chief engineer, said he will advertise for bids for the project because the cost is likely to exceed $10,000.
Alfred Fleming, board president, asked if the district can take measures to prevent the problem.
"Once you're at that point it's pretty difficult," Martin said.
The district has used copper sulfate in the water to address the taste and odor problems in the past.
"If we could identify the synura before it hits the treatment plant then we can be ready for it," Tabak said.