What is happening to Lake Albano / Castel Gandolfo and why did the water become red?

The Waters of Lake Castel Gandolfo they took on a coloring reddishattracting curiosity and concern from residents and visitors. This phenomenon, although unusual for those who observe it for the first time, is actually well known to experts and has occurred for many years.

The main cause is the Flowering of a seaweed known as Planktothrix Rubescenscommonly called “Red Alga”. This seaweed flies cyclically During some periods of the year, especially when there is a high concentration of organic and inorganic nutrients in the waters.

These nutrients, often deriving from pollution, feed the proliferation of the alga, which in turn alters the appearance of the lake. Red coloring is not an aspect to be underestimated, but rather it is a worrying signal because it indicates one imbalance in the lake ecosystem. The presence of the alga, in fact, reduces the quantity of oxygen in the water, putting at risk the survival of other forms of life, such as Zooplacton, fundamental for the lake’s food chain.

There is also the problem of lowering water levels

The main sources of pollution are the illegal spills of fertilizers, phytopharmacies and civil dischargeswhich enrich the water of nutrients for the seaweed. This problem is not limited to Lake Castel Gandolfo, but it also affects other water mirrors in the area, such as the Nemi lakewhere similar phenomena have been recorded in recent years.

In addition to the presence of the red alga, another problem that afflicts the lakes of the region is the progressive lowering of water levels. This phenomenon is mainly attributed to climate change, which have reduced rainfall and increased evaporation, but also to the expansion of human activities in the surroundings. The greatest exploitation of water resources for civil and agricultural purposes further aggravated the situation.

To deal with these problems, the district basin authority of the central Apennines launched a program of interventions aimed at safeguarding the lakes of Castel Gandolfo and Nemi. With a total investment of 60 million euros, it aims to recover over five million cubic meters of water per year within a period of 24-36 months.

The phenomenon of the red alga is a clear alarm bell on the fragility of the lake ecosystem and the need for concrete actions to counter pollution and environmental degradation. Only through a concrete commitment will it be possible to protect these precious natural assets for future generations.

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