HydroMentia to Design Powell Creek Algal Turf Scrubber® Mobile Pilot Unit in Lee County, Florida

Lee County, Florida (February 2008) – Lee County, Florida, has awarded HydroMentia a contract to design an Algal Turf Scrubber® Mobile Pilot Unit water treatment system for Powell Creek, located in Fort Myers. Funding for the project was provided through a grant from the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). The project design will include a 12-month field investigation that will allow design refinements based on site-specific conditions. The end result is a more efficient and cost-effective treatment system.

The Powell Creek Algal Turf Scrubber® is being developed as part of a regional program to reduce pollutant loads to the Caloosahatchee River. Releases of nutrient laden water from urban and agricultural lands as well as releases from Lake Okeechobee threaten the health of the Caloosahatchee River, which was listed by American Rivers as one of America’s most endangered rivers for 2006. Treatment of Powell Creek, which flows into the Caloosahatchee River, will positively affect the quality of the water in this diverse and fragile ecosystem.

HydroMentia’s Algal Turf Scrubber® water treatment technology uses algae to remove or scrub pollutants from water. The Algal Turf Scrubber® serves as a culture unit for periphytic algae, some of the most prolific and productive plant species on earth. As the algae grow, they remove nutrient pollutants (nitrogen and phosphorus) from the water. Algae is then regularly harvested and processed into products such as compost, livestock feed and biofuel feedstock.

About HydroMentia, Inc

HydroMentia, Inc. is a water pollution control company specializing in the design, development and operation of proprietary water treatment technologies. The company’s water treatment technologies offer innovative, cost-effective solutions to restoring and protecting waterways overburdened with nutrient pollutants.

Its team includes scientists and engineers that pioneered the development and application of man- aged aquatic plant based water treatment systems including the use of attached algae. With over sixty years collective experience designing, constructing and operating commercial scale systems, HydroMentia s the only algae-based water treatment company with this depth of experience and knowledge.

Through development of the algae-based Algal Turf Scrubber® technology, HydroMentia has re- solved the most critical challenges of large scale algae cultivation: maximizing production and cost- effective harvesting of algae. The result is a technology that provides both water restoration and more cost-effective algae production per unit area than any other commercial scale algae cultivation system.

Founded in 1996, the company is headquartered in Ocala, Florida. For more information please visit our website: https://hydromentia.com