Satellite Images Show Threat of Florida’s Toxic Algal Bloom

Florida’s Lake Okeechobee has experienced a massive algal bloom that threatened waterways throughout the entire state. Large-scale algal blooms could cause many grave issues within the local ecosystem, and far beyond. Harmful algal blooms (HAB) can cause sudden and long-lasting damage, not only to one marine ecosystem, but to multiple as the HAB flows onwards.

Each year Lake Okeechobee in Florida experiences algal blooms throughout the summer. In 2018, algae levels rose even higher than normal and caused problems for the environment and local residents, leading to the declaration of a state of emergency in the counties of as Lee, Hendry and Glades.

LG Sonic uses technology based on satellite remote sensing, water quality monitoring, and ultrasound technology to control algal blooms in large water bodies. The ultrasound technology is a green, sustainable, chemical-free solutionsuitable for treatment of HAB in large waterways such as lakes, dams and reservoirs without using chemicals, and without affecting other organisms in the lake such as plants and fish. It is clean and safe, used by premiere top-level water utilities, with LG Sonic appointed an official certified innovation partner of American Water.

The technology, called the MPC-Buoy, uses real-time water quality monitoring and remote sensing to analyze present algae and predict algal blooms. Based on this info, ultrasound is used to control algae specifically without harming other organisms. This is crucial as there is a requirement for more sustainable approaches to HAB treatment - one that shifts away from the use of harmful chemicals to new technology.

The MPC-Buoy has been used at lakes and reservoirs around the world and has been proven to control algal blooms and their associated toxins, in many cases completely replacing the need to chemically treat the lake or reservoir. LG Sonic is running MPC-Buoy projects with top-level water utilities such as American Water (US), EPM (Colombia), South West Water (UK) and Watercare (New-Zealand).

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