Scientists will return to Lake Hood this week to supervise setting up the site of a full scientific study of products designed to control algae.

Six shipping containers that will serve as study pods have been craned into a canal alongside Huntingdon Avenue, the site of a pilot trial in December.

Group Manager of Infrastructure Neil McCann said the shipping containers had been jet washed and painted, and would be used to monitor and study five different products.

“A pilot trial at the site last year allowed us to get to know the testing environment and the containers craned in on Monday will be there for about three months for the duration of the full study.

“We’ll also be installing several pieces of ultrasonic equipment in other spots to see how they can mitigate the growth of cyanobacteria.

“We know the equipment is of interest, but we ask that people on the water steer clear of it while the full scientific study is under way.”

The sonic equipment will float in the canals and be marked by buoys: One will be in the canal between Trent and Torbay, and another in the canal between Ludlow and Torbay. A third site is also being considered.

Health New Zealand issued a health warning for the lake on 14 January, after sampling showed elevated levels of potentially toxic planktonic cyanobacteria in a sample from the water ski area.

Mr McCann said the lake was not closed, but Council asked people to follow the advice of the health warning.

The lake was closed in April last year when toxic cyanobacteria known to be harmful, Microcystis, was detected, and there were two substantiated cases of people falling ill from exposure to the lake water.

“These same conditions are not currently present, so the lake remains open, however we’ll review that status as required,” he said.

The product study that will start in February involves a lot more testing and monitoring than in the pilot phase, and visitors to the lake can expect to see the science team on site.

Mr McCann said Council was grateful to the scientific team and the work it was doing, which was not being funded by Council.

“We are supporting with operational assistance, like putting the containers in the canal, but the costs associated with the scientific study, like testing water and sediment samples, is being covered by the Canterbury and Lincoln universities and the Our Lakes, Our Future project.”

The scientific study is part of a national collaboration by many research organisations to improve the health of New Zealand lakes, and is part of the Our Lakes, Our Future project.

“While they’re doing on-the-ground work over the next three months, we’ll be allowing water to flow into and out of the lake as usual, the weed harvester will be operating, and we’ll be continuing our regular water quality updates.”

Council has a dedicated Lake Hood page on its website, ashburtondc.govt.nz and those interested in the water quality project can sign up for regular updates.