Orange County to Study Algae Based Water Treatment System for Restoration of Lake Lawne in Orlando, FL

Orlando, FL (March 2008) – In August 2007, HydroMentia was selected by Orange County to construct and operate two pilot Algal Turf Scrubber® (ATS™) systems at Lake Lawne in Orlando.

Affected by population growth and excess pollutant loads, numerous Orlando lakes fail to meet Florida’s surface water quality standards. To address this concern, Federally mandated Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) regulations will require Orange County to reduce phosphorus load to Lake Lawne by 53% (2,505 pounds per year) and reduce nitrogen load by 30% (10,810 pounds per year).

The Lake Lawne Periphyton Filter Water Quality Improvement Pilot Study is being conducted to investigate removal of excess nutrients via the algae based ATS™ technology. The project will determine if this algae based water treatment technology provides cost-effective treatment and restoration of the lake, helping Orange County meet its pollution reduction goals.

The Algal Turf Scrubber® technology uses algae to remove nutrient pollutants, such as excess phosphorus and nitrogen, which are damaging Florida’s fragile ecosystems. Polluted water is conveyed to the Algal Turf Scrubber® system, where it is pulsed in waves across a sloped floway. Algal turf or dense mats of attached algae are cultivated on the surface. As the algae grow they consume carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, thus excess nutrient pollutants are removed from the water. The algae is routinely harvested and may be processed into marketable products including organic fertilizer and biofuel, turning what was once a pollutant into a valuable resource. This method of pollutant recovery and recycling ensures that performance is sustainable over time.

Once the 6-month pilot project is completed and the results have been reported, Orange County will consider construction of a full-scale Algal Turf Scrubber System as part of an overall program to restore Lake Lawne.

About HydroMentia, Inc

HydroMentia, Inc. is a water pollution control company specializing in the design, development and operation of proprietary water treatment technology. 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 managed 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, the HydroMentia team is 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 resolved 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