Hidden Threats, Heavy Costs: The Growing Price of Invasive Mussels in Municipal Water Infrastructure

When municipal administrators think about infrastructure threats, they often picture aging pipes, equipment failures, or funding shortfalls. Only recently has an invasive, thumb-sized freshwater mussel come to mind: but zebra and quagga mussels are quietly generating millions in unexpected costs, causing system outages, and threatening community stability across Canada, Europe, and the United States.

Realized Costs: Millions Spent, Infrastructure at Risk

In Canada, the threat of zebra mussels has become undeniable. Ontario municipalities along the Great Lakes spend upwards of $200,000 annually per facility on mussel mitigation measures—such as continuous chlorination, mechanical scraping, and manual cleaning by specialized divers. Cornwall, Ontario, for instance, experienced multiple blockages in its primary water intake pipeline, risking prolonged outages and prompting discussions of building costly redundant systems—potentially tens of millions in new capital expenses.

This issue isn't confined to Canada. In the United States, the Great Lakes region incurs staggering annual costs exceeding $500 million. The Tennessee Valley Authority alone commits nearly $225,000 annually to mussel mitigation across its hydroelectric facilities. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, Lake Constance (Bodensee), which serves millions of residents in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, faces projected costs of hundreds of millions of Euros to maintain water flows as quagga mussel populations explode to densities exceeding 25,000 mussels per square meter.

Extrapolated Costs: Community Impact Beyond the Budget Line

Direct expenditures on mussel control methods are just the tip of the iceberg. Municipalities must factor in the costs of emergency responses, lost revenue from water service interruptions, and diminished public trust when water supplies are compromised. When zebra mussels caused outages in municipal water systems in places like Monroe, Michigan, and fouled water supplies in Austin, Texas, communities experienced tangible impacts—from public frustration to increased health risks.

In Canada, the potential disruption is even more critical due to many communities' reliance on single-source water intakes. Imagine the social and economic disruption if communities such as Hamilton, Ontario, lost their primary water source—even temporarily. Businesses would close, schools would shut, emergency services would be strained, and public confidence would plummet.

What Can Municipalities Do?

Traditional reactive measures—chlorination, physical removal, and emergency cleanings—can temporarily mitigate mussel impacts, but these methods are costly, environmentally problematic, and increasingly regulated. Municipalities must now seek proactive, sustainable, and cost-effective alternatives to protect critical water infrastructure from invasive mussel colonization.

The Time to Act is Now

Municipal administrators must recognize that zebra and quagga mussels are no longer just an ecological nuisance—they're an infrastructure crisis waiting to happen. Preventive approaches, leveraging innovative technologies and proactive infrastructure planning, are essential.

BarrierFlow Technologies is at the forefront of developing non-chemical, preventive solutions specifically designed to eliminate the threat of mussel colonization in critical infrastructure before it begins. To learn more about safeguarding your community’s water infrastructure from invasive mussels and avoiding crippling future costs, visit BarrierFlow Technologies.

Don't wait until your municipality is dealing with an expensive crisis—act now to protect your infrastructure, your budget, and your community.