LG Sonic and American Water Announce Innovative Partnership to Monitor and Control Algal Blooms
Zoetermeer, The Netherlands (PRWEB) April 24, 2015 -- American Water, America’s largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility company, and LG Sonic, a Dutch manufacturer of algae control systems, today announced it has formed a partnership to perform ultrasonic algae control in water treatment plants. This makes LG Sonic the first European company that succeeded to become a certified innovation partner of American Water.
Reduction of Chemical Consumption, Odor, and Taste Problems
Blue-green algae cause problems when blooming in lakes and water reservoirs, such as health issues, fish deaths, and odor problems. In order to provide an environmentally friendly solution to these problems, LG Sonic developed the MPC-Buoy, a floating solar-powered platform that emits specific ultrasonic parameters to target the algae present. In 2014, American Water installed four buoys in a drinking water reservoir at the Canoe Brook water treatment plant in Short Hills, New Jersey. Extensive testing conducted during 2014 showed that the installed buoys had a significant impact on the algae, allowing the treatment plant to reduce chemical consumption by more than 20% and reducing the concentration of compounds that can cause undesirable tastes and odors.
Algae Control Project Receives Environmental Award
“This project proved to be a great example of how American Water is committed to protecting the environment, and to finding ways to use our most precious resource wisely." said Dr. Mark LeChevallier, Director of Innovation and Environmental Stewardship. “As a leader in researching and deploying water industry innovations, American Water is committed to using technologies that help us increase our efficiencies and the value of the water services we provide to our customers.”
Based on the results of this study, American Water plans to purchase buoys for other reservoirs impacted by algae and is looking at other uses including, clarification basins, waste backwash lagoons and wastewater/reuse applications. In March 2015 American Water and LG Sonic received a Business Achievement Award from Environmental Business Journal (EBJ) for this algae control project.
First European Company that succeeded to become Innovation Partner of American Water
LG Sonic is the first European company that succeeded to become a certified innovation partner of American Water. “We are really proud to partner with American Water, the largest and most innovative water utility in the USA. Their philosophy and knowledge of the local market matches our growth ambitions” (Yousef Yousef, General Manager LG Sonic).
The MPC-Buoy is a solar-powered system that combines continuous online water quality monitoring, web-based software, and ultrasonic technology to effectively control harmful algal blooms in large water surfaces, such as lakes and drinking water reservoirs. At this moment, the MPC-Buoy is installed in lakes and water reservoirs in, among other countries, the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, and Poland.
Source: LG Sonic
About LG Sonic
Since 1999, LG Sonic has been a leading international manufacturer of algae control systems. Our products provide an environmentally friendly solution to effectively control algae in lakes, reservoirs, treatment plants, and other applications. Over the last decade, more than 10,000 LG Sonic® products have been successfully installed in 52 different countries. More information can be found at http://www.lgsonic.com.
About American Water
Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, NJ, the company employs approximately 6,400 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater, and other related services to an estimated 15 million people in more than 45 states and parts of Canada. More information can be found at http://www.amwater.com.
This partnership is a product of the company's Innovation Development Process. Formed in August 2009, American Water's Innovation Development Process is an initiative that leverages the company's position and expertise as the nation's largest water and wastewater services provider to develop innovations by performing idea validation tests using the company's large and geographically diverse footprint, ultimately becoming an early-adopter of new technologies for industry use. It combines American Water's research and development acumen, technical expertise and infrastructure assets, with innovations from within the company and from business partners, to create greater efficiencies in the areas of water reuse, desalination, wastewater operations and bio-energy.
Anne Gierveld, LG Sonic, http://www.lgsonic.com, +31 70 2210525, [email protected]
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