Our Stories

From algae crisis to action: How science is safeguarding water for 1.8 million people in Northern Ireland

Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Technology and Thermo Scientific Compound Discoverer Software empower scientists to identify known and unknown toxins with speed and confidence

By Darcy Bjornstad
Communications Specialist III

WHEN blue-green algae blooms began spreading across Lough Neagh in 2023, Mark Collins knew this challenge was different. As the largest freshwater lake in Ireland and one of Northern Ireland’s main drinking water sources, Lough Neagh plays a vital role in Northern Ireland Water’s (NI Water) service to around 1.8 million people, making any perceived risk to water quality a serious concern for communities across Northern Ireland.

The blooms are far from subtle. Thick, green, paint-like swirls stretch across the surface, releasing a foul, rotten-egg-like smell. The growth drew widespread public attention, with headlines splashing across media outlets and satellite images capturing the algae from space.

Satellite images of green algae blooms in Northern Ireland’s Lough Neagh.

“The first thing that crossed my mind was that this is very serious,” says Mark, an R&D Manager at NI Water. In his role, Mark typically tracks trace-level contaminants invisible to the naked eye. “The fact that this was visible, even from outer space, sent shivers down my spine. That’s unusual, even for scientists.”

Beneath the surface, the science revealed a more concerning reality. A study published in Environment International found that over 80% of bacterial DNA recovered from untreated water in Lough Neagh included potentially harmful microbes, such as E. coli and Salmonella. Researchers also detected microcystin-LR—a toxin produced by freshwater cyanobacteria (blue-green algae)—that is known to affect the liver, nervous system and brain, and in some cases cause serious illness or death. (Queen’s University Belfast, 2024)

For Mark, the real danger wasn’t the blooms he could see, it was the toxins he couldn’t see and how quickly they could be detected. Safeguarding Lough Neagh’s drinking water demanded a new approach.

Seeing the signs and seeking advice

Before the algae blooms became headline news, NI Water was monitoring water sources for herbicides, nutrient runoff and other environmental factors tied to land use.

“Months before the algae visibly appeared, I noticed that small pipes in fish tank aquariums were getting clogged. I started to look for solutions purely by accident,” Mark says. “I was aware that there was a growth, but the scale of the issue was unknown.”

As the situation worsened, the team at NI Water realized this was not a problem they could solve alone. The team met with scientists and institutions who had been studying algae blooms for years.

Close-up images of algae found in Lough Neagh, a source of drinking water for 1.8 million people in Ireland.

“Why go back to ground zero?” Mark explains. “If someone is 10 steps ahead of you, ask for help. That spirit of collaboration across countries, disciplines and industries quickly became central to how we approach emerging risks.”

Although the initial conversations were helpful, it became clear to the team that collaboration alone would not be enough for a rapidly evolving threat.

Need for speed: NI Water turns to Thermo Fisher Scientific

Today, monitoring potential algae toxins is a multi-stage, around-the-clock process. Historically, NI Water relied on third-party laboratories for routine analysis, but as algae blooms expanded, turnaround times that once felt acceptable began to feel too long.

Facing growing pressure to act, NI Water secured funding to build an in-house laboratory integrating Thermo Fisher Scientific’s advanced analytical instruments. The new setup included an end-to-end workflow —from sample preparation to in-depth data analysis systems —tailored to the organization.

Mark’s team relies heavily on these instruments to accurately determine the toxins present in the water. They use the company’s Thermo Scientific™ Orbitrap Exploris™ 120 Mass Spectrometer (MS) to collect the data and its Compound Discoverer™ Software to analyze it. The insights obtained enable Mark’s team to identify potential threats in raw water and take action to prevent contaminants from reaching the public supply.

Mark Collins’ NI Water lab is outfitted with Thermo Fisher Scientific technology to support near real-time water safety testing in Northern Ireland.

“These instruments give us fast, robust and reliable data that’s critical when we need to make decisions quickly,” Mark explains. “With these tools in-house, we can scan entire samples, and our teams feel a real sense of relief that data is now coming in faster than it takes to make a cup of coffee.”

By building an integrated lab system, NI Water has also improved how information flows across the organization. Streamlined sample tracking, data management and reporting allows information to move quickly from the lab to the frontline teams.

“This shift is creating a steady flow of communication, giving teams more opportunities to make better decisions on the ground.” Mark says.

Lessons beyond Northern Ireland

What is happening at Lough Neagh carries lessons far beyond Northern Ireland.

“Climate change, invasive species, higher temperatures, increased rainfall … none of these circumstances act alone,” Mark says. “They come together like ingredients in a cake. The key is to recognize small trends early instead of waiting for one seismic event. At NI Water, we’ve learned that owning our data and having the right analytical tools to interpret it gives us the power to act before small changes become major problems.”

“Our Mission comes to life in moments like this,” says Andrea Carbonaro, Ph.D., senior director and general manager, Environmental & Food Safety Testing at Thermo Fisher Scientific. “When we can help our customer respond faster and with greater confidence, we’re not just advancing science, we’re building better outcomes for the people they serve. Our team at Thermo Fisher is proud to support that kind of impact.”

Mark Collins, R&D manager at NI Water, uses Thermo Scientific Orbitrap technology to rapidly detect harmful algae toxins water samples taken from Lough Neagh.

For Mark, that impact extends well beyond Northern Ireland, as he highlights the need for scientific collaboration.

“There’s no passport control for clouds. Water doesn’t respect borders,” he says. “What happens here could be influenced by rainfall somewhere else entirely. As scientists we need to work together, globally.”

NI Water is leading with science, combining stronger monitoring with faster action to protect public health. It is essential, behind-the-scenes work that, in addition to being deeply personal to Mark, is keeping Northern Ireland’s water safe and reliable, so families can have peace of mind when they turn on their taps at home.

“I can’t compute a whole population relying on us,” he says. “But I can compute my parents, my children and the people closest to me. They drink this water. They cook with it. They shower in it. Knowing this motivates me to do whatever I can to protect public health and the environment.”