I've been using Google Trends to keep tabs on the searches for...

I've been using Google Trends to keep tabs on the searches for the term 'phoslock' over the past few weeks, and I noticed over the past few days there has been a notable spike in searches for this term originating in Canada. 

 

My understanding is that the Google trends data doesn't include searches made by only a small number of people, so if there is a spike in searches for a term, it implies that there were probably a large number of individuals searching for a term. So for some reason, a large number of Canadians seem have been interested in phoslock over recent days.

 

It is hard to be sure if this has any implications for the company, and there could be some innocuous reason for the jump in searches for the term 'phoslock'. 

 

But it is intriguing that earlier today, the Ontario Minister for the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Rod Phillips, released a report on the state of drinking water in Canada's most populous province.

 

While I think shareholders in this company might find it an interesting read, the report is lengthy, and there is no point in replicating it all here.

 

However, it is notable that one of the first sub-headings in the report is on blue green algae:

 

Emerging Issues

The province tracks issues that may affect water quality to ensure our evidence-based standards are effective. The province is working hard to address emerging issues, including blue-green algae, the impacts of climate change and the presence of plastics in water. The province monitors these issues and assesses how they may have an impact on drinking water so we can plan and take the correct protective action.

Blue-green algae

Ontarians across the province are frustrated by algae that fouls our waterfront and can affect the quality of the water we drink.

 

Blue-green algae, also called cyanobacteria, occur in a wide variety of environments including lakes, ponds and rivers. When conditions are conducive, blue-green algae can increase to form a large mass or scum in the water called a bloom. These blooms can produce toxins that may be harmful to people and wildlife. Blue-green algae thrives where there is calm water, warm temperatures, and available nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus.

 

The amount of blue-green algae reported in Ontario has increased over the last year. As of November 9, 2018, there were 66 confirmed reports of blue-green algae compared to 54 in 2017.

 

Ontario has a comprehensive protocol in place for responding to harmful algae. This protocol ensures collaboration with local health units and local medical officers of health to manage incidents, including quick screening of algae samples to identify potential toxins.

 

In 2018, we used new technology to detect algae in surface water samples at a rate faster than before. This technology takes pictures of microscopic particles in water samples at a rapid rate, allowing us to measure thousands of particles in minutes.

 

In addition to the work done by public health units to screen for blooms and toxins, Ontario responds to public questions and reported sightings of algae. If you think you see blue-green algae, stay out of the water (that includes your pets and livestock) and call the Spills ActionCentre (1-800-268-6060) and your local public health unit.

 

Find more information below about our actions to address blue-green algae.

 

In that last line there is a link, which takes you further down the page to a section which details the action plan to address blue-green algae, especially in Lake Erie:

 

Actions to address blue-green algae

Phosphorus is a key contributor to blue-green algae, which can impact water quality and threaten drinking water and people’s health. Phosphorus enters our waterways from many sources, including runoff from agricultural lands, urban centres, sewage treatment plants and septic systems. Actions by the agricultural sector, municipalities and conservation authorities are helping to reduce phosphorus loadings and potential impacts from algae on our drinking and recreational waters.

 

In particular, the Great Lakes, including Lake Erie, are vitally important for our drinking water, quality of life and prosperity. We are working to restore them so that we can continue to enjoy their benefits for this and future generations. The action plan to reduce phosphorus loadings to Lake Erie released by Canada and Ontario in February 2018 identifies more than 120 federal, provincial and partner actions using mandatory and voluntary approaches, to help achieve the goal of reducing phosphorus entering Lake Erie by 40 per cent....

 

That figure quoted there, 40%, sounds familiar.

 

You might recall back in August, a couple of posters here highlighted a report from a local Canadian news site about a group of farmers around lake Erie who were testing a phosphorous filtration system, that employed phoslock. I've pasted the relevant extract from that report below:

 

...Colin Little, agricultural program co-ordinator with the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Area (LTVCA), said his organization, local farmers and the Kent Federation of Agriculture have teamed up to test the unique phosphorous filtration system.

 

It features two holding tanks, a catch basin, and two automated and programmable water testing stations. After a heavy rain, the runoff flows into the first holding tank, where it is filtered through mulch and Phoslock – a patented phosphorous-locking technology. It goes into the second tank and through the same filtering process, before slowly draining into the catch basin. From there it is discharged into the municipal drain.

 

The water emanating from the filtration system at a media event July 26 looked quite clear in colour.

Little said the filter is designed to help achieve the goal of 40-per-cent phosphorous reduction as outlined in the Lake Erie Action Plan, a joint initiative of the Ontario and federal government...

 

Joining the dots here, it looks possible that the phoslock filtration system that was being tested back in August could be set to play a key role in the aim of meeting that Lake Erie 40% phosphorous reduction target.

 

That would be one explanation for the sudden spike in searches for the term 'phoslock' from Canada over recent days.

 

At the very least, I think it is fairly likely that those phoslock searches are somehow linked to the Ontario action plan, given the prominence of blue green algae in the report that was released today.