ABSTRACT
Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) are organisms that have some characteristics of bacteria and some of algae.They are similar to algae in size and, unlike other bacteria, they contain blue-green and green pigments and can perform photosynthesis. Pollution related to human activities, e.g. from agricultural runoff and inadequate sewage treatment, has led to excessive eutrophication (fertilization) of many water bodies.As a result, there is excessive proliferation of cyanobacteria in fresh water which has a considerable impact upon recreational water quality (as they are responsible for the taste and odour of water). In temperate climates, cyanobacterial dominance is most pronounced during the summer months, which coincides with the period when the demand for recreational water is the highest. The formation of cyanobacterial blooms is not a new phenomenon.The earliest reliable account of such blooms was at the end of the twelfth century (Ressom et al. 1994).
