Credit video: Manuel Cano Alfaro (Guatemala)
Review: Abdel Rahman El Gamal
This video shows the algal scum on the water surface of Lake Amatitlan in Guatemala. The lake receives great amount of the sewage from Guatemala City through different tributaries turning into a completely eutrophic body of water. The heavy nutrients load as represented in phosphorus and nitrogen has led to the proliferation of micro algae known as microcystin which has negatively affected the oxygen levels in the lake’s surface.
The on-going aeration of the lake targeted to alleviate some eutrophication effects. Also, the introduction of water hyacinth aimed to utilize the significant ability of this weedy plant in removing nutrients (mainly nitrogen and phosphorus) from the water.
