On that point made by Geoffo regarding brand recognition, I noticed a passing mention of Phoslock last month in an article from a local US news site which listed a number of tips to prevent harmful algal blooms in community ponds:
• Reduce excess nutrients. For lakes and ponds with chronic nutrient problems, the application of phosphorous-locking technologies, such as Phoslock and Alum, can make a noticeable impact. When applied by a licensed professional, these products work to rapidly remove free reactive phosphorous, improving water clarity and permanently reducing undesirable nutrients so they can no longer contribute to harmful algae growth.
Mickem noted recently another casual mention of a Phoslock treatment in the US: taken together, these might be an indication of a growing awareness of the product in North America.
Turning back to the blue-green algae problems in Germany over the summer, I recently came across some reports from local German news sites on the condition of a couple of lakes in that country which make for an intriguing study in contrasts.
In April 2016, the company mentioned in an announcement that their licensee, Bentophos, had undertaken a large project at the Waidsee, near the German city of Frankfurt.
As was highlighted in this German news report earlier this week, the Waidsee remained in excellent condition despite the extreme conditions this summer, and this was in part because of the Bentophos treatment in 2016:
Despite Sahara summer and record-breaking bathing season: The Weinheimer Waidsee has a water quality like in a long time. "Seven-meter visibility", said the biologist dr. André Stelling now pleased with an on-site visit. With his environmental technology company, Stelling manages the "Pelikane" in Weinheim, which has been keeping the bath water clean for the past 16 years, just like phosphate vacuum cleaners. For the "Pelikanen" again a granulate change was necessary. The granules act like a filter.
In consultation with the Weinheim environmental consultant Roland Robra and with the help of the DLRG Ortsgruppe and the fishing association on Waidsee, Stelling has readjusted the "pelicans" in the lake and moved them to the current lowest points; there they can do the most.
Now the "phosphate killers" are optimally positioned again.
The work took four full days - a tough job. In sacks, four and a half tons of filter granules were removed and carried away. The new material weighed just as much again. The divers had to remove the anchor to change position and work hard under water. "It was a great collective effort by the players at the Round Table Waidsee", certifies Roland Robra, "as always on Lake Waidsee". Manuel Umann, water manager of the fishing club was a particularly diligent helper praised Stelling. But also Lars Pflästerer, Max Dasse and Jannis Augustin from the DLRG were a great help for the biologist and "Seeschützer".
Since 2002, the city has been receiving the top water quality in the Waidsee with the help of the phosphate-elimination compact systems (the initials give the word "pelican"). The Weinheim "pelicans" are insatiable beings. In the last 16 years, they have filtered around 380 kilos of phosphates from Waidsee in Weinheim. That's even more than planned. However, the treatment with the phosphate antidote Bentophos two years ago had a lasting effect, said Roland Robra.
The above translation is a bit clunky, but it seems that the combination of the Bentophos treatment in 2016 and the 'pelican' system described above proved to effective in preventing blue-green algae contamination in the Waidsee, notwithstanding the fact that the 2018 summer conditions provided an ideal backdrop for the growth of algal blooms.
By way of comparison, alternative methods that were adopted by another German city, Munster, in a large local lake called the Aasee, proved ineffectual in the heatwave conditions, as is noted in this local news report from a few weeks back:
The extremely hot summer and the associated increased evaporation of water with simultaneous lack of rain have again led to a blue-green algae bloom in the Aa-See in 2018.
The administration now informs the members of the Committee on the Environment. Actually, after installing ultrasound equipment two years ago, it was believed that the problem was under control.
This was good in 2016 and 2017 as well. But now, shortly before the end of the swimming season, the technology was no longer working against the algae.
Partly the water level in the A-lake had dropped by 60 to 70 centimeters. Twice, therefore, the ultrasound devices had to be readjusted. Although they were in operation around the clock, the algae blossom could no longer be prevented.
Another news report on this topic mentions that the council had also been using a method called 'phosphate precipitation' (which seems to be similar to alum) in recent years to try and keep the cyanobacteria problems in check.
These methods did not prove up to the job this year, and the unfortunate consequence of this is evident in the picture below:
Perhaps unsurprisingly, local German news reports suggest that this situation caused some distress in the local community, as well as prompting heated debate in the town council as to the best way to prevent the problem recurring.
At a meeting at the end of last month, the council was not able to determine a solution to this environmental catastrophe, however the all agreed
...that doing nothing is not an option. Hedwig Liekefeldt, environmental spokeswoman for the SPD, praised the proposal from the discussion round to seek advice from the experienced Dutch citizens. And Jung was sure: "The city of Münster will have to spend a lot of money over the next few years to get the Aasee as a recreational area." How much? That's just a question of value.
The clear waters of the Waidsee over the summer are proof enough that Phoslock has a good track record in Germany, and this is something that the company needs to broadcast as they look to secure more work in that country.
The horrible situation at the Aasee, on the other hand, highlights the folly of the false-economy mindset that is all-too frequently adopted local authorities when it comes to water treatment, and this too, is something the company would be wise to draw attention to as they look to promote their services to local authorities in Germany.
PET Price at posting:
43.0¢ Sentiment: None Disclosure: Held
(20min delay)
