It’s quite common for farmers to use small ponds as holding areas for their irrigation water. However, in addition to the health hazards associated with algae-contaminated water, excessive algae growth in holding ponds can clog irrigation pumps and filters, adding many hours of unnecessary labor. In addition, algae-produced hepatotoxins and neurotoxins have been associated with fatal animal poisonings, according to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study. In this article, we’ll review what causes algae invasions in farm ponds—and how you can prevent it.

Part 1: Comment Periods and Rule Finalization

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in six Americans (or, 48 million) get sick due to food-borne illnesses every year. This serious public health issue prompted the passage of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)—a sweeping piece of legislation designed to help the FDA stop these preventable illnesses rather than reacting to them. The actalso creates new enforcement authorities to improve food safety standards and contain food safety issues when they do arise.

As steamy weather drives throngs of visitors to pools and water parks this summer, swimming facility managers are busy ensuring the health and safety of swimmers—and a significant concern with so many bodies in the pool is the risk of infection. Last summer, a study of public pools conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 58 percent of the water samples collected contained E. coli bacteria; nearly 60 percent of the 160 pools sampled contained fecal contamination.