HABguard
Harmful Algae Bloom intervention system
Waddah, Raymond and Tony.
The Problem
Governments and corporations spend hundreds of millions annually on a losing battle against freshwater toxic algae.
Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) create “Dead Zones” by depleting dissolved oxygen O₂, leading to mass die-offs of fish and aquatic life.
Thick mats block sunlight, killing underwater vegetation and collapsing local biodiversity.
A Direct Threat to Biological Health
These blooms produce potent hepatotoxins and neurotoxins that damage the liver, kidneys, and nervous system — harmful to both humans and animals.
Airborne risks: when wind disturbs the bloom, toxins become aerosolised and can trigger severe respiratory attacks in nearby populations.
In 2014, a Lake Erie bloom left 500,000 residents in Toledo, Ohio without safe drinking water for three days.
The Economic Cost
Treatment Costs: Municipalities face skyrocketing bills to treat contaminated water for safe consumption, straining public budgets and local infrastructure.
The Cost of Inaction: Lake Erie blooms alone could cost Canada $5.3 billion over 30 years (Smith et al., 2019).
Fishery Losses: Shellfish accumulate toxins and commercial fishing areas face frequent, costly closures — devastating coastal economies.
Our Solution
Our AI agent identifies the germination stage — stopping a bloom before it ever starts. Early detection means intervention before toxins are produced.
The AI calculates the exact intervention needed based on real-time water chemistry, deploying precision countermeasures rather than broad chemical treatments.
Bloom identified before toxic cell production begins
Water chemistry data drives precise, targeted action
How It Compares
Predictive optimisation can reduce projected losses by nearly $2.8 billion in the Lake Erie Basin alone.
Prevents toxin release by managing algae during its early, non-toxic growth phases — eliminating the hazard at the source.
Enables a return to natural oxygen levels, protects submerged habitats, and restores aquatic biodiversity. A data-driven RL agent creates cost-efficient decisions at every stage.
References
- 01
Smith, R. B., Bass, B., Sawyer, D., Depew, D., & Watson, S. B. (2019). Estimating the economic costs of algal blooms in the Canadian Lake Erie Basin. Harmful Algae, Volume 87, 101624.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2019.05.005 - 02
NOAA Coastal Science (2025). Assessing Environmental and Economic Impacts of HABs. coastalscience.noaa.gov.
https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/science-areas/habs/assessing-environmental-and-economic-impacts/ - 03
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) (2025). Control and Treatment of Harmful Algal Blooms. whoi.edu.
https://www.whoi.edu/know-your-ocean/ocean-topics/ocean-life/red-tides/control-treatment/ - 04
CBC News (2019). Algal bloom economic cost — Lake Erie. cbc.ca.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/algal-bloom-economic-cost-lake-erie-1.5221597 - 05
The Guardian (2020). Lethal algae blooms — an ecosystem out of balance. theguardian.com.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/04/lethal-algae-blooms-an-ecosystem-out-of-balance - 06
Interstate Technology Regulatory Council (ITRC) (2026). Strategies for Preventing and Managing Harmful Cyanobacterial Blooms. itrcweb.org.
https://cyanobloom-1.itrcweb.org/