1. Application of the Algal Turf Scrubber® Technology for
Point Source and Non Point Source Nitrogen and
Phosphorus Control
Lower St. Johns Technical Advisory Committee,
Jacksonville, FL
December 12, 2006
Mark Zivojnovich and Margaret Palmer

2. Phosphorus and Nitrogen
Treatment Alternatives
POINT SOURCES
•Technology Upgrades
NON POINT SOURCES
•Best Management Practices
•Regional Treatment Systems
•Chemical Treatment
•Managed Aquatic Plant Systems
•Treatment Wetlands

3. Algal Turf Scrubber® History

4. Algal Turf Scrubber® (ATS™)
Algal Turf Scrubber
(ATSTM) (2.0% and 1.5%
Slope)
ATS™ Pump
Station
ATS™ Influent Flume and
Surgers
ATS™ Effluent
Flume

5. Algal Turf Scrubber® Inflow

6. Algal Turf Production

7. Algal Turf Production

8. Algal Turf Scrubber® Solids Management

9. Centralized Solids Recovery and Management

10. Algal Residuals Product Applications

11. Compost Production

12. Florida Algal Turf Scrubber® Systems

13. Taylor Creek Algal Turf Scrubber®
Regional Stormwater Treatment Facility

14. Taylor Creek Algal Turf Scrubber® - 15 MGD
Okeechobee County, Florida

15. Taylor Creek Algal Turf Scrubber® - 15 MGD

16. Taylor Creek Algal Turf Scrubber® - 15 MGD

17. Taylor Creek Algal Turf Scrubber® - 15 MGD

18. Egret Marsh Algal Turf Scrubber®
Regional Stormwater Treatment Facility

19. Egret Marsh Algal Turf Scrubber® - 10 MGD
Indian River County, Florida

20. Algal Turf Scrubber®
Phosphorus Control

21. Algal Turf Scrubber® and Treatment Wetlands
Relationship of Phosphorus Mass Loading and
Areal Removal Rate

22. Algal Turf Scrubber® Phosphorus Areal Removal
Rates for Three ATS™ Units (300’ Floway) Operated
at Varying Hydraulic Loading Rates

23. Algal Turf Scrubber®
Nitrogen Control

24. Algal Turf Scrubber® Relationship of Nitrogen
Inflow Mass Loading and Areal Removal Rate at
High HLR

25. Algal Turf Scrubber® Relationship of Nitrogen
Inflow Concentration and Areal Removal Rate

26. Nitrogen Areal Removal Rate for Algal Turf
Scrubber® and Constructed Treatment Wetlands

27. Algal Turf Scrubber®
50-Yr Present Worth Costs

28. Peer Reviewed Present Worth Costs
Sano, D., A.W. Hodges and R. L. Degner. 2005. Economic Analysis of Water
Treatment for Phosphorus Removal in Florida: Comparison of Wetland
Stormwater Treatment Areas and Managed Aquatic Plant Systems.
MAPS phosphorus treatment costs ($/kg P-removed) for proposed
treatment systems in the Lake Okeechobee Watershed were 53 – 69% lower
than costs for wetland stormwater treatment areas.
Costs included capital, operations and management, water storage and
recreational benefits.
Johns, G. 2005. Cost-Effectiveness of ATS™ Systems with Comparison to
RASTAs – Lake Okeechobee Watershed Project. Technical memorandum
submitted to SFWMD.
“The results shows that regardless of the compost disposition assumption,
the discount rate, and the phosphorus concentration of the water as it
enters the ATS™ System, the present value cost per pound of phosphorus
removed is significantly lower than that of the RASTAs.”

29. Algal Turf Scrubber®
Technology Advantages
• Increased Pollutant Removal Rates
• Reduced Land Requirements
• Reduced Treatments Costs
• Quantifiable Performance

30. Reduced Land Requirements - Nitrogen
[1] HydroMentia. April 2005. Single Stage Algal Turf Scrubber Present Worth Cost & By-Product Market Analysis. (TPIN=311 ppb, LHLR =
18.8 gpm/lf, TNREMOVAL= 6,440 lbs/acre-year)
[2] Treatment Wetlands estimated average nitrogen removal rate of 145 lbs/acre-year based on Everglades STA WY 2004 treatment
performance.

31. Nitrogen Reduction Cost Effectiveness

32. Technology Applications
• Regional Stormwater Treatment Systems
• Wastewater Treatment System Upgrades
• Surface Water Restoration

33. Opportunity
“In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.”
Albert Einstein