Laserfiche WebLink
The Egret Marsh Storm water Park is Indian River County's first Algal Turf <br />Scrubber (ATS) System. This innovative system removes dissolved nutrients such <br />as nitrogen and phosphorous from ten million gallons of Indian River Farms <br />Water Control District's canal water each day and these nutrients produce a <br />useable byproduct of harvested algae. Polluted canal water is pumped into a <br />headworks tank and flows by gravity onto the ATS which is the heart of the <br />treatment system. Clean water from the ATS continues to flow by gravity through <br />a series of deep polishing ponds and then into a wildlife habitat area that provides <br />a much needed home and refuge for large populations offish, birds, insects, <br />amphibians, and other animals. The clean water is then returned to the canal <br />system where it will eventually flow into the lagoon. Since the ATS is basically a <br />large algae farm, it must be harvested. The harvested algae may be composted <br />and used as a soil supplement or mixed with other material and fed to cattle. <br />Another use for the nutrient -rich algae that is currently being researched is <br />conversion of the algae into paper products such as toilet paper, conversion to bio - <br />plastics, and methane gas production. The Egret Marsh has become a valuable <br />nature showcase that demonstrates a successful effort to recreate a rapidly <br />vanishing ecosystem. <br />