One of River Torrens's biggest problems is the blue-green algae outbreak due to Adelaide’s hot and dry summers in South Australia. In 2013, the City Council and Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board proposed a trial of sodium percarbonate to kill off algal blooms. The active component of this chemical is hydrogen peroxide, which is believed to have minimal impact on the aquatic environment as it can decompose harmlessly into hydrogen and oxygen within two days. 

River Torrens

After two years of laboratory tests, the trial is being carried out in River Torrens. During the conduct, the researcher and project officer mixed half a tonne of powdered chemical with liquid and poured it into the waterway between Adelaide Zoo and the University footbridge in the city. The health of snails and freshwater shrimp was also monitored during the treatment. It has been proven that hydrogen peroxide is effective in dealing with the outbreak of blue-green algae, as they are more susceptible than other aquatic life. Peroxide is a completely natural chemical. The solid hydrogen peroxide compound usually is safer and more stable, and it breaks down into water and oxygen after around 24 hours. Water projects officer Katharine Ward has stated that a weak concentration of hydrogen peroxide is being used to ensure the safety of fish and birdlife in the area. Adelaide Natural Resources has reported that this algal control method has been successfully used in the United States.

Reference：

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/combating-river-torrens-slime-using-sodium/news-story/f4def083006585622c23baa6932e5161

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-28/torrens-lake-algae-treated-with-hydrogen-peroxide/7118382

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-11/algae-treatment-trial-in-river-torrens/8433778

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