VOORHEES, NJ, April 22, 2015 -- Today, American Water (NYSE: AWK), the nation's largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility company, announced that it has formed a partnership with LG Sonic to perform ultrasonic algae control in water treatment plants. This partnership is a result of the company's Innovation Development Process, which drives innovation and supports the development of new products.
LG Sonic is the first European company to become a Certified Innovation Partner of American Water. The company's solar-powered ultrasonic algae-control buoys, called the MPC-Buoy, transmit ultrasonic waves continuously to disrupt algal cells, causing them to sink and preventing proliferation. Four of these buoys were recently installed in Reservoir No. 1 at the Canoe Brook Water Treatment Plant in Short Hills, N.J. (see "American Water, LG Sonic recognized for chemical-free algae control at NJ reservoir").
This was the first installation of this technology for drinking water reservoirs in North America. This new system combines continuous online water quality monitoring, web-based software and ultrasound technology to better prevent taste and odor events from occurring. Additionally, in keeping with American Water's sustainability efforts, this system operates 100 percent on solar power and the technology will not harm fish or other wildlife.
Extensive testing conducted during 2014 showed that the buoys had a significant impact on the algae, allowing the plant to reduce chemical consumption by more than 20 percent and reducing the concentration of undesirable taste- and odor-causing compounds in the treated water delivered to 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.
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.
See also:
"Seek & Destroy: Algal Blooms"
"Ultrasound technology in water treatment: Suppressing algal growth and biofilm formation"
About American Water
Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., 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. For more information, visit www.amwater.com.
About LG Sonic
Since 1999, LG Sonic has been an international manufacturer of algae control systems. The company's 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. For more information, visit www.lgsonic.com.
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