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About Invasive Mussels
Tiny Invaders
These tiny, freshwater species, Dreissena polymorpha and Dreissena rostriformis bugensis, originated in the Caspian and Black Seas. From there, they were transported to the Western Hemisphere in ballast water, and have invaded waters in the United States and Canada, causing numerous ecological impacts and creating operations and maintenance challenges for facilities that draw water from infested lakes and rivers.
Invasive mussel populations have been widespread in the Great Lakes and Midwest regions for nearly two decades. In 2007, quagga mussels were discovered in Lake Mead, on the lower Colorado River system, infesting water and hydroelectric power plants in Nevada, Arizona and California, including the Hoover, Davis and Parker Dams. In 2008, state officials in California confirmed the presence of zebra mussels in the San Justo Reservoir.
A Multibillion Dollar Problem
Zebra and quagga mussels thrive in a variety of aquatic habitats, readily find food, and reproduce prolifically. They move easily by floating during their larval stage and within weeks are mature enough to attach themselves in large masses to submerged objects in water.
Their colonies, which have been measured up to 700,000 mussels per square yard, can clog pipes and filters within just a few months and continued attachment can cause corrosion of steel and concrete affecting its structural integrity. United States Congressional researchers estimated that zebra mussels alone cost the power industry $3.1 billion during 1993–1999, and had more than a $5 billion impact on industries, businesses, and communities during the same period.
Unfortunately the battle against this invasive, destructive species rages on, intensified by their unrelenting spread and complicated by increasing regulatory pressures, such as stricter discharge permits. Today facility operators are faced with what appear to be conflicting goals—controlling mussels while managing shell debris, and achieving a high level of efficacy without harming the environment or putting the facility or employees at undue risk.
Zequanox was developed to address this growing need.
Widespread Industry Impacts
Invasive mussels affect many public and private sectors:
- Service and cooling water systems in industrial and power generation facilities
- Irrigation systems of golf courses and agriculture operations, including green houses and livestock watering
- Aquaculture operations
- Drinking water storage and treatment plants
- Water conveyance
- Firefighting equipment
- Fire suppression systems
- Lakes and reservoirs
- Public infrastructure and equipment