Algae outbreak at Chaohu Lake - Here we go again
![Villagers row a boat on the algae-filled Chaohu lake in Hefei, East China's Anhui Province, June 5, 2008. Recently, blue-green algae has been discovered in the west part of Chaohu Lake, which is China's fifth largest body of fresh water and the drinking water source for about 320,000 people. [Xinhua]](http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/06/xinsrc_4320605060824448324764.jpg)
As the weather gets warmer here in Shanghai, in another region of China, Hefei, Anhui Province, where’s China’s fifth largest lake, Chaohu Lake resides, a blue green algae outbreak was discovered, affecting at least 320,000 people who depends on it as a water source. The outbreak is caused by a rise in temperature, allowing algae growth to take place. Of course, some required chemical reagents like ammonia and nitrogen must have existed in plentiful amounts before this kind of algae can take place. There must be some kind of pollutants and wastes coming into the lake from an outside source, most probably factories who are illegally dumping chemicals which in the end ended up in this lake.
Blue-green algae, which exists widely in water bodies and is not harmful itself, grows easily in polluted water with a high concentration of nitrogen and phosphorous and a temperature of around 18 degrees Celsius. But an excess of blue-green algae removes oxygen from the water, killing fish and other aquatic life, which then decay and release toxin. That’s where it gets scary, which makes the water even more not drinkable to us all.
The authorities are working on removing excessive green blue algae from the lake. Locals in the affected areas are using water pumps to get rid of the slimy-greeny-super-hard-to die-off-fast-growing-weed. Surely a better solution in the long run is to inspect and ensure no pollutants travel and end up in this lake which is feeding a population of the people in Anhui Province. Who is most affected in the end: 人民(ren2 min2 the people).
![A worker uses water pump to clear algae in Chaohu lake in Hefei, East China's Anhui Province, June 5, 2008. Recently, blue-green algae has been discovered in the west part of Chaohu Lake, which is China's fifth largest body of fresh water and the drinking water source for about 320,000 people. [Xinhua]](http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/06/xinsrc_4420605060824029127905.jpg)
![Workers row a boat on the algae-filled Chaohu lake in Hefei, East China's Anhui Province, June 3, 2008. Recently, blue-green algae has been discovered in the west part of Chaohu Lake, which is China's fifth largest body of fresh water and the drinking water source for about 320,000 people. [Xinhua]](http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/06/xinsrc_4420605060824610235746.jpg)
![Algae-filled Chaohu lake is seen in this picture taken on June 4, 2008 in Hefei, East China's Anhui Province. Recently, blue-green algae has been discovered in the west part of Chaohu Lake, which is China's fifth largest body of fresh water and the drinking water source for about 320,000 people. [Xinhua]](http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/06/xinsrc_4520605060824010172527.jpg)
Images from Xinhua.
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this is terrible. actions of a few affecting so many
There is the mineral water called 农夫山泉(nongfu springs) sold here that came from this place called 千岛湖(Qian-dao Lake), the water is not really as clean as it should be, ironic part is that from Shanghai, there are always massive amount of tours visiting that lake, and I seriously don’t understand why they don’t want to keep that lake clean, as in the locals, they can always fight for the rights. It’s very bad for tourism, bad for branding of a mineral water that is being sold at most South-Eastern regions of China as well. If there’s something to be said, maybe it’s wake up your idea. The top knows, but middle sure hiccup one, dunno why. Either that or maybe the middle like to hide truths from the top till something explodes: boom.