Cyanobacterial Blooms in Ponds of Punjab, India

High nutreint levels, draining of fertilizers, sewage and disposal of industrial effluents in water bodies often promote bloom formation. Blooms of blue-green algae (Cyanobacteria) in ponds, reservoirs, etc. produce the musty-earthy taste and odour and thus turn the drinking water unpalatable. In Punjab, number of ponds and other aquatic bodies have turned up green because of massive blooms. The adverse impacts on water supplies due to blue-green algal blooms are usually serious but generally underestimated.