Project finds use for lake invader

A pilot project has been launched on Lake Rotoiti to harvest green algae infesting the lake - and to possibly turn it into useful products.

Representatives of Environment Bay of Plenty, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) which has helped fund the project and Aquaflow, the company providing the equipment, officially opened the project at the Ohau Channel linking Lakes Rotorua and Rotoiti on Thursday 27 May.

The project is designed to investigate the possibilities of harvesting algae from some of Rotorua’s lakes where water quality is poor, and where algae and weed are growing because of excess nutrient flows.

The harvested algae has a potential use as a product, as well as making the lake cleaner. Algae can be used to make bio-fuels, fertiliser, animal and fish feed, and valuable chemicals and products.

It can be used to manufacture activated carbon for use in filtration and absorption products. The carbon filtering made from algae can even be used to remove unpleasant flavours from drinking water – which can be caused by the presence of algae.

Environment Bay of Plenty Chairman John Cronin said the project’s technology had the potential to benefit waterways in the region infested with algae, at the same time improving water quality.

NZTE, the Government’s economic development agency, is working on a number of projects to help New Zealand develop world-class industries based on new technologies.

NZTE Director of Strategic Initiatives Chris Boalch said supporting the Lake Rotoiti project could open up international markets and boost New Zealand’s profile in the field of environmental technology, where there was considerable demand. The low cost, short term pilot project will run for three to six months.

Environment Bay of Plenty has been working on this project with local trustees of the Waiatuhi Block, with support from local iwi and the Lake Water Quality Association, Te Arawa Lakes Trust and the local community.