CAPE CORAL, Fla., - A Cape Coral company says it has the solution to eliminate algae in local canals.
This, as the Army Corps of Engineers is beginning to release more Lake Okeechobee water into the Caloosahatche River which could increase algal blooms.
Ecological Laboratories Inc., a Cape biotech fermentation company, won state approval Thursday to test their product in local waters. If it works, it could be used across the City.
“This product does work. We do it all over the world,” said Matthew Richter, Vice President of the company.
The company says its solution is not a chemical. Rather, an aerobic, anaerobic photosynthetic bacteria that’s naturally occurring and not harmful to the water. It works by targeting the algae’s food source and killing it by starvation.
“The organisms are going to go after the food source. They’re going to out-compete the food source of the algae. It’s survival of the fittest,” Richter said.
The company will test in the Cabot Canal just south of Veterans Memorial Parkway in Cape Coral.
As part of the trial, the company is required to test and document how the quality of the water is affected.
“Results are not going to happen overnight but it should happen in a few weeks time,” said Richter.
Testing is set to begin next week.
Residents living along the testing canal will be made aware via a letter to their home.
