F0r years scientists have known how to prevent algae outbreaks in our waters: reduce nitrogen from excess fertilizers and from septic tanks and sewage.
Since our state refuses to stop or reduce these sources due to political pressure and costs, a variety to other methods after pollution occurs continues to surface. This is but the latest.
Of the many plans tried, none to date has been effective. We continue to hold that prevention is the only solution, and that clean waters are worth the cost to pay for them. We must all share this cost.
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Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
jim.tatum@oursantaferiver.org
– A river is like a life: once taken,
it cannot be brought back © Jim Tatum
A lab in Orange Park is working to solve Florida’s algae bloom problem. Here’s how
ORANGE PARK, Fla. – There are plenty of stories of algae blooms showing up from the East to the West Coast, and from the Midwest to the South.
However, the solution to reducing the harmful substance starts at a laboratory in Orange Park, Sustainable Water Infrastructure Group, or SWIG….
“The short and sweet of it is these are all basically miniature, examples of what would be out in the field,” Bush explains
SWIG’s system emulates what Mother Nature would do over time to clean the waterways. The focus, however, at the Orange Park campus is phosphorus removal for Doctor’s Lake leading into the St. Johns River.
Vincent Seibold, the director of operations for SWIG, said the organization is a startup company and he’s excited about the work he and his team are doing.
“Starting with the inflow structure, we have piping that’s going into our system,” Seibold explained. “The big manifold that goes all the way around the system, that’s the pipe and that’s constantly flowing.”
The process is all-natural and monitored daily.
To date, SWIG has removed over 6,500 pounds of phosphorus with its system. About 1.5 million gallons of water are treated every day.
“Now you have a media that contains phosphorus, so then that gets recycled for agricultural fertilizer operations,” Seibold said.
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About the Author
Jenese Harris
Veteran journalist and Emmy Award winning anchor.
