What are water companies doing to counteract the problem of zebra mussels clogging the intake pipes?
There are several ways that water companies are dealing with zebra mussels. Treating with chlorine is the most effective way to kill them. Other chemicals called “molluscicides” are also effective. Zebra mussels can also be killed without chemicals by passing the water through different methods such as electrical current, carbon dioxide, ultraviolet light, acoustical vibration, and heating the water. Some facilities use screens and filters fine enough to stop the small larvae from getting through. Clogged pipes can be dewatered so that the zebra mussels dry up and die, but that can take too much time if there is not an alternate pipe which can be used while the clogged one is shut down. Some facilities have installed pipes made from copper, brass, or galvanized metal which zebra mussels do not like. But that can be expensive if you have a lot of pipes. The insides of pipes can be painted with copper or zinc based paints which again zebra mussels do not like. They also do not like silic
