As a golf course superintendent, you’re always striving to keep the course in top condition—from the greens to the fairways, and even the water features. But maintaining a healthy pond or waterbody on your course requires more than just controlling algae or adding treatments when problems arise. The key to clear, clean water often lies in maintaining the right balance of nutrients.

You might already be familiar with the importance of phosphorus, but focusing solely on it doesn’t always solve the problem. To truly achieve a healthy waterbody, it’s about balancing phosphorus with two other key nutrients: nitrogen and carbon.

Why Nutrient Balance Matters
Think of your pond as an ecosystem—plants, fish, and microorganisms depend on specific nutrient levels to stay healthy. When the right balance of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus is in place, you get clear water, thriving plants, and minimal algae. But when that balance gets disrupted—especially when there’s too much phosphorus—it can throw the whole system off.

Phosphorus tends to be the biggest driver of water quality problems on golf courses. It’s usually the limiting nutrient in freshwater, meaning even a small increase can lead to excessive algae growth. This algae not only makes the water look bad, but it can also cause foul smells, clog irrigation pumps, and lead to more maintenance work.

The Role of Nitrogen and Carbon
While phosphorus gets a lot of attention, nitrogen and carbon are just as important in keeping your waterbodies balanced. When phosphorus levels rise, the pond often doesn’t have enough nitrogen to balance it out, which can trigger blooms of harmful algae like cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). These algae can release toxins and harm fish or other wildlife in your water. Carbon plays another critical role. It’s involved in breaking down organic material, such as grass clippings, leaves, or other debris that end up in the pond. When there isn’t enough carbon available, this breakdown process slows down, which can lead to an accumulation of sludge, bad smells, and murky water.

Managing a Healthy Waterbody
To keep your course’s waterbodies healthy, it’s crucial to maintain a balance between phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon. If one nutrient is out of proportion, the entire system can suffer. That’s why just focusing on reducing phosphorus isn’t enough—you need to look at the bigger picture.

Fortunately, there are products designed to restore this balance. These nutrient-remediating solutions work by targeting the key imbalances and helping your pond return to its natural state. The result? Cleaner water, reduced algae growth, and less ongoing maintenance for you and your team.

A Long-Term Approach to Water Management
Achieving long-term success means regularly monitoring nutrient levels and taking proactive steps to manage them. By maintaining the balance of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, you can create an environment where your water features essentially take care of themselves. Natural processes, like calcite precipitation (where carbon and calcium combine to stabilize pH levels and remove harmful substances), can keep your water clean and healthy without constant intervention.

Conclusion
As a golf course superintendent, your water features are an essential part of the course’s aesthetics and functionality. Maintaining balanced nutrient levels—especially between phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon—can prevent algae, keep the water clean, and reduce the time you spend dealing with pond issues. A balanced approach to water management ensures your ponds remain a beautiful and trouble-free feature of the course, enhancing the overall golfing experience.

Maintaining a balanced waterbody is crucial for the health of aquatic ecosystems in lakes, ponds, or reservoirs. The interplay of nutrients, especially phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon, directly impacts water quality, biodiversity, and overall ecosystem function. A key scientific principle that underscores this balance is the Redfield Ratio, which provides insight into nutrient dynamics in both marine and freshwater systems.

What is the Redfield Ratio?

The Redfield Ratio represents the consistent atomic ratio of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) found in marine phytoplankton, expressed as 106:16:1. This means that for every 106 atoms of carbon, there are 16 atoms of nitrogen and 1 atom of phosphorus. While this ratio was discovered in the ocean, it has broader applications in lakes and ponds, providing a model for understanding nutrient imbalances.

A balanced C:N:P ratio supports healthy aquatic life and prevents problems like algal blooms and stagnation. However, shifts in this ratio—particularly due to an excess of phosphorus—can disrupt the delicate equilibrium, triggering ecological consequences.

Why Phosphorus is a Key Driver of Imbalance

In freshwater systems, phosphorus is often the limiting nutrient, meaning it is in the shortest supply relative to algae and aquatic plants’ needs. Even small increases in phosphorus can lead to eutrophication—a process where excessive plant and algal growth depletes oxygen, causing dead zones and fish kills. While phosphorus itself is not toxic, its imbalance can strain other nutrients.

For instance, a rise in phosphorus increases the demand for nitrogen and inorganic carbon to maintain the 106:16:1 ratio. When phosphorus is elevated, it can cause a shortage of nitrogen and carbon, leading to poor water quality and a shift in species dominance, often favoring harmful algae like cyanobacteria (blue-green algae).

That means, focusing solely on phosphorus without considering the balance of nitrogen and carbon is not enough. While phosphorus may be the spark that triggers problems, it is the balance of all three nutrients that truly determines the health and stability of the waterbody.

The Role of Nitrogen and Carbon

While phosphorus gets much attention, nitrogen and carbon play equally critical roles in maintaining water quality. When nitrogen levels become disproportionate to phosphorus, certain algae species, like nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria, can dominate, some of which produce harmful toxins.

Carbon, although abundant, is essential for fueling microbial processes that break down organic matter and recycle nutrients. If carbon availability becomes limited, these processes slow, resulting in a buildup of organic material and deteriorating water conditions. Additionally, a lack of inorganic carbon can raise pH levels, creating an environment that favors blue-green algae and harms other aquatic organisms. Decaying biomass leads to depletion of oxygen under those conditions.

A Holistic Approach to Water Quality Management

The Redfield Ratio serves as a tool for water managers to take a holistic approach to ecosystem health. By ensuring balanced nutrient ratios of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, managers can create a stable environment where the growth of plants and algae is kept in check, oxygen levels remain stable, and aquatic life can flourish.

To manage water quality effectively, a comprehensive management plan that balances these three key elements is required. Water treatments, like nutrient-remediating products or biological amendments, should be designed to address imbalances in all nutrient categories—not just phosphorus—while promoting long-term health and sustainability.

The Path to a Balanced Waterbody

Waterbody managers should aim for a balanced nutrient environment that supports thriving aquatic ecosystems without tipping toward eutrophication or stagnation. This involves careful nutrient monitoring and treatments strategies that consider the intricate relationships between carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus.

Using products that bring waterbodies back into homeostasis allow for natural processes, such as calcite precipitation—where inorganic carbon and calcium interact to remove toxins and stabilize pH—can further enhance water quality. This self-cleaning process has evolved over millennia and offers a blueprint for managing modern waterbodies. By leveraging these principles, we can maintain waterbodies that are healthy, vibrant, and sustainable for future generations.

Conclusion

Achieving a balanced waterbody requires an integrated approach to nutrient management, ensuring that carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus levels are harmonized. By applying the Redfield Ratio as a guiding framework, we can create water environments that support biodiversity, enhance water quality, and reduce the need for reactive treatments.

As a golf course superintendent, part of your mission in maintaining exceptional course conditions includes managing the water features that enhance the beauty of your course and support a healthy, balanced ecosystem. However, over time, ponds and water hazards accumulate organic sediments that trap nutrients, particularly phosphorus, leading to water quality challenges and the need for costly and disruptive dredging. Traditional management practices often fall short in addressing these issues and place a heavy burden on an already busy team. Enter SchlixX and SchlixX Plus from Oase—cutting-edge solutions designed to transform how you manage water bodies on your golf course.

Revolutionary Solutions with SchlixX

SchlixX is a groundbreaking calcium-based technology that addresses the root cause of water quality problems: excess phosphates and organic sediment buildup. By creating a reactive layer, SchlixX gradually releases its active ingredients, drawing nutrients out of the sediment and permanently binding phosphorus. This process not only lowers nutrient levels but also fosters the growth of beneficial bacteria, providing a sustainable and comprehensive solution.

Key Benefits of SchlixX:

• High Levels of Phosphorus Removal: SchlixX excels in binding and eliminating phosphorus, the primary nutrient responsible for algae blooms and water quality deterioration.
• Increases Digestion of Organic Sediment: With a single application, SchlixX significantly speeds up the breakdown of organic matter, reducing the sludge that accumulates over time.
• Superior downward diffusion: SchlixX’s unique formulation ensures better penetration into the sediment, improving digestion efficiency compared to traditional treatments.
• pH Stabilization: By buffering the pH at the sediment interface, SchlixX enhances overall biological activity in your water bodies.
• Increased Dissolved Oxygen (DO): Higher DO levels at the sediment interface promote more efficient microbial activity and support healthier aquatic life, bolstering the natural self-cleaning processes of your ponds.

SchlixX Plus: The Game-Changer for Water Management

While SchlixX offers five significant benefits, SchlixX Plus takes water management to the next level with two more superior benefits, creating a complete 7-in-1 solution for golf courses. By adding BioKick Pro, Oase’s proprietary bacterial component, you get SchlixX Plus. This industry game-changer reduces the need for your team’s involvement, allowing them to focus on what truly matters—keeping your greens, green. Additional benefits of SchlixX Plus include:

• Significant Sludge Reduction: One ton of SchlixX Plus can remove up to 3,900 cubic yards of sludge in a single application, greatly improving water depth and eliminating the need for costly and disruptive dredging
• Promotes clear and healthy water: By breaking down toxins (such as nitrites, ammonia, etc) SchlixX Plus improves overall water quality and helps to eliminate foul odors that can wreak havoc on your courses.

Reduce Team Burden and Focus on Course Excellence

Traditional water management practices often require frequent, labor-intensive interventions, placing a significant strain on your team. By incorporating SchlixX Plus into your management strategy, you can reduce the need for constant attention to your water features. This frees up your team to concentrate on other crucial tasks, such as maintaining the greens and ensuring the course remains in top condition.

The Future of Water Management on Your Golf Course

Incorporating SchlixX and SchlixX Plus into your water management strategy means embracing a future of improved water quality, reduced maintenance efforts, and sustainable ecological balance. These products not only address immediate concerns but also offer long-term solutions that enhance the overall health and aesthetics of your water features.

Why Choose SchlixX Plus?

• Proven Results – Proactively address the root causes of algae growth, breaking the cycle of reactive treatments.
• Save Time and Money – Enhance the long-term value of your course by reducing the need for frequent, labor-intensive maintenance.
• Environmentally Sustainable – Utilize cutting-edge technology to rebalance your water bodies, allowing them to overcome environmental stressors naturally.
• Extend the life of your ponds – Reduce or eliminate the need for dredging to gain back holding capacity in your irrigation ponds, while improving water quality and health.

Imagine restoring your ponds and water hazards to their original state, whether they’re used for irrigation or simply adding to the course’s aesthetic appeal. With SchlixX Plus, you can revive the natural beauty and health of your water features, ensuring they remain vibrant and clear for years to come. The peace of mind that comes from knowing your water bodies are both functional and thriving will offer a lasting legacy for your course and its patrons.

For more information on how SchlixX and SchlixX Plus can benefit your golf course, contact us today or learn more about these innovative products and how they can transform your water management strategy.

As a lake management company, your primary goal is to maintain pristine water bodies that are not only visually appealing but also ecologically balanced. Over time, lakes and ponds accumulate organic sediments that store nutrients such as phosphorus, which can lead to significant water quality issues and the need for costly and disruptive dredging. Traditional methods often fall short in addressing these challenges effectively. Enter SchlixX and SchlixX Plus from Oase—innovative solutions that are set to transform your lake management practices.

The Power of SchlixX

SchlixX is a revolutionary calcium-based technology designed to address the root cause of water quality issues: excess phosphates and organic sediment buildup at the bottom of lakes and ponds. It works by creating a reactive layer that gradually releases its active ingredients, effectively drawing nutrients out of the sediment and sequestering phosphorus as it becomes available. After the reaction, there is nothing left behind, while phosphorus becomes permanently bound. This process not only reduces nutrient levels but also enhances the growth of beneficial bacteria in the water, providing a comprehensive and sustainable solution. Here’s why SchlixX stands out:

• High Levels of Phosphorus Removal: SchlixX excels in binding and removing phosphorus, a key nutrient responsible for algae blooms and water quality deterioration.
• Increases Digestion of Organic Sediment: With a single dose, SchlixX significantly accelerates the breakdown of organic matter, reducing the sludge that accumulates over time.
• Superior downward diffusion: SchlixX penetrates deep into the sediment improving digestion efficiency, compared to traditional solutions.
• pH Stabilization: By buffering the pH at the sediment interface, SchlixX enhances the overall biological efficiency of the water body.
• Increases Dissolved Oxygen (DO) at the Sediment Interface: The increase in DO levels promotes more efficient microbiological efficiency as well as healthier aquatic life, supporting the natural self-cleaning processes of the water body.

Elevate Your Results with SchlixX Plus — The Ultimate 7-in-1 Solution for Lake Managers

While SchlixX offers five significant benefits, SchlixX Plus takes lake management to the next level with two more superior benefits, creating a complete 7-in-1 solution for lake management companies. By adding BioKick Pro, Oase’s proprietary bacterial component, you get SchlixX Plus, making it an industry game-changer:

• Significant Sludge Reduction: With this innovation, one ton of SchlixX Plus can remove up to 3900 cubic yards of sludge in a single application, drastically improving water depth and reducing or eliminating the need for costly dredging.
• Promotes clear and healthy water: By breaking down toxins (such as nitrites, ammonia, etc) SchlixX Plus improves overall water quality and helps to eliminate foul odors.

When it comes to nutrient mitigation and organic sediment removal, no other product on the market delivers the comprehensive benefits of SchlixX Plus. It’s an efficient, holistic, and sustainable solution designed specifically for lake managers who want the best results with minimal effort.

The Future of Lake Management

Incorporating SchlixX and SchlixX Plus into your lake management strategy means embracing a future of improved water quality, reduced maintenance efforts, and sustainable ecological balance. These products don’t just address immediate concerns; they offer long-term solutions that enhance the overall health and aesthetics of your water bodies.

The extended effectiveness of SchlixX Plus translates to:

• Proven Results – Break the cycle of treating algae just before your clients start to complain. Proactively address the root causes of algae growth, preventing problems before they arise.
• Save Time and Money – Enhance the overall long-term value of your contracts by reducing the need for continual, labor-intensive visits that rely on repetitive applications of other costly products.
• Environmentally Sustainable – Reduce frequent applications of traditional lake management products, utilizing technology to rebalance your waterbody allowing it to overcome environmental pollution and stressors naturally.
• Extend the life of your ponds – Reduce or eliminate the need for dredging, which will likely be the single largest expense ever incurred by a lake or pond owner,

What if you could reset your water bodies, restoring them to their original state? Using premium technology to balance the ecosystem can help lakes and ponds naturally regain full functionality and continue providing the desired outcomes for your clients. With SchlixX Plus, you can revive the natural beauty and health of these water bodies, ensuring they remain vibrant and clear for years to come. Imagine the peace of mind that comes from knowing your lakes and ponds are not only functional but also thriving, offering a lasting legacy for your clients and future generations to enjoy… it’s time to include us in your Biological Budgets.

For more information on how SchlixX and SchlixX Plus can benefit your lake management practices, contact us today or learn more about these innovative products and how they can transform your water management strategy.

We are pleased to share that Jordan Meissner has joined the Oase team in the prominent role of Vice President of Water Technology, North America. Jordan is specifically focused on launching Oase Professional’s Lake Therapy solutions in the North America market, building on their European success, and bringing value to prospects and customers with his knowledge and expertise. With over 10 years in the environmental industry, Jordan has led teams in sales and operations within lake management and product manufacturing companies.

“I ultimately decided to join Oase Professional because they’re at the forefront of introducing technologies that I’ve longed to see in the field. These innovative solutions tackle ongoing issues in water management, significantly easing operational burdens for teams while delivering sustainable benefits that foster win-win outcomes for customers and providers alike.” says Meissner.

Jordan began his career in Business Development at Aramark, where he honed his skills before moving into leadership roles at premier lake management and water technology manufacturing companies which encompassed strategic sales initiatives and operational execution. This background uniquely positions Jordan to drive Oase Professional’s expansion efforts effectively.

Please help us welcome Jordan! Jordan can be reached at j.meissner@oase.com or by contacting him through our website.

So much of our lake and pond management attention is focused on the control of nuisance and sometimes toxic algae. For professional lake managers, in doing so, you must strike a balance between tried-and-true methods and new technologies, while also providing your clients with good results within a reasonable budget that allows you to be competitive and still make a profit. Sustainable business is no less important than sustainable water resource management. As a professional, it is your goal to accomplish both.

There are very few products or strategies that can be the foundation for both long-term sustainable results for your clients and long-term client retention and profit for you. Too often our attention is incorrectly drawn to the least expensive way to make quick visual improvements to a waterbody, thus getting the instant gratification of client satisfaction for what seems to be an inexpensive first step. The problem comes when you realize that you have to repeat this over and over again, and in the end, it is not sustainable, nor truly much of a WOW for your customer, and certainly not in any way going to transform your business.

SeDox and SchlixX Plus are going to change this paradigm. These two innovative product solutions were recently introduced to North America after having many years of success in Europe.

Products that can bind phosphorus, release dissolved oxygen, reduce organic sludge, or stabilize pH are not new concepts to lake managers, but never has there been a product that could do all of these things with a single application. Further, unlike all other current treatment options, these products leave no contaminants or residues of any sort behind post application. Offering a formulation targeting the water column primarily (SeDox), or one targeted for the bottom (SchlixX Plus), these two products are truly different than anything that lake managers have had at their disposal previously. Imagine getting all of the benefits above with a time released reaction for control throughout the season.

What’s even more unique is the pH stabilization and other water chemistry changes that occur naturally with the application of these products. These solutions will effectively “cleanup” all aspects of the water body and provide sustainable water quality while improving the results and outcomes of all of your other management practices. In other words, these products don’t just do “their job,” they make everything else in the system work better, naturally.

Incorporating these technologies into your routine annual management programs will not just provide better results and happier clients, it will reduce your reliance on repeat applications of less sustainable treatment products, while also reducing the associated labor costs. If your goal is to manage lakes and ponds in such a way as to create quality long-term relationships with your clients, then a change of approach and an investment in these new technologies is the answer. Not only will year one results improve, but there will be a compounding effect with each subsequent application in future years, meaning your results will continue to improve while your total costs go down and profits go up over the life of your customer relationship.

Just like our lake and pond management strategies, our business strategy should be sustainable and must evolve and differentiate you in order to remain relevant in an ever-changing and competitive world. Are you ready to take the first step to happier clients and a more successful business?

When pond maintenance, aeration and natural beneficial bacteria are not enough, supplementing with new technologies is your ideal solution.

Maintaining a healthy and balanced water body requires ongoing maintenance, aeration and an abundant population of beneficial bacteria. When a lake or pond is balanced, the chances of algae blooms, foul odors, fish kills and organic sediment buildup lessens significantly. And while beneficial bacteria occurs naturally in lakes and ponds, sometimes, despite our best efforts, lake and pond water quality can suffer. Supplemental beneficial bacteria paired with complementary technologies can significantly enhance the quality of your water, reduce sediment issues and improve your lake or pond’s overall health.

Many of us already know the importance of naturally occurring beneficial bacteria in maintaining a healthy, balanced pond and ecosystem. These bacteria help to reduce nutrients, therefore limiting excessive algae growth. They improve dissolved oxygen (DO) levels and water clarity and prevent sludge buildup that accumulates in lakes and ponds by breaking down organic matter, such as decaying leaves, dead plant material, excess fish food and waste faster than it accumulates. And ultimately helps to eliminate noxious odors, which wreak havoc on homeowners, golfers, anglers, boaters and others trying to enjoy the surrounding water body.

When natural beneficial bacteria is not enough, the next step is to assess and test your waterbody and determine if and how much supplemental beneficial bacteria is necessary. This process, known as bioaugmentation, can help restore the natural balance of your lake or pond and improve water quality.

Various bacterial supplements are available, each catering to specific needs. The 8lb Block, for example, offers ongoing bacterial maintenance and is designed to provide time-released addition of beneficial bacteria to your body of water for up to 60 days. The block sits at the bottom of the lake or pond and helps maintain a proper biological balance in the water by improving dissolved oxygen (DO) levels and helping to reduce ammonia and nitrite levels, as well as noxious odors caused by hydrogen sulfide, dead plant material, and fish waste. Additionally, these bacteria will help with the continued digestion of organic matter in the sediment.

And for a power boost, combining any beneficial bacteria product with the application of SchlixX will improve the efficacy of your treatment by slowly releasing oxygen into the bottom sediment and binding available phosphorus over a 4-6 week period, while also buffering pH for biological efficiency. Greater sequestration of nutrients and accelerating sediment digestion will improve the overall health of your waterbody greatly reduce the man-hours and other products needed to maintain the lake or pond. In the long term this will also reduce the need for disruptive and costly dredging. Contact one of our in-house experts to find out which solutions are best for your specific water bodies.

Over time, sludge builds up and stores nutrients, like phosphorus, increasing the risk for algae, odors, and other quality issues in your lakes and ponds. While often overlooked in the near term, it will also one day likely lead to very costly and disruptive dredging. There are several management best practices that can help to mitigate these problems, but when that is not enough, you can now turn to newer innovative technologies that are changing the game in water quality management.

Pond with vegetated shoreline buffer

Anyone responsible for managing a lake or pond should already be implementing best practices such as aeration, vegetated shoreline buffers, responsible application of fertilizer within the watershed, and keeping leaf litter, grass clippings, and other organic debris out of the water, as well as the ditches and pipes that direct stormwater flow into the water body. These are all excellent ways to help mitigate nutrient pollution and stabilize shorelines to prevent erosion and excess sedimentation.

Unfortunately, there are many situations in which these best practices alone will not be enough to sustain the health of your water body for the long term. Breaking the cycle of regular algae growth, which is not only unsightly and unhealthy but also leads to muck accumulations as the algae is treated and sinks, will be imperative to your short and long-term management objectives. When your other efforts in prevention are failing or you are simply looking for better results, it is time to look to newly available technologies to do for you what other options cannot.

SchlixX Plus, for example, is a breakthrough solution for balanced, healthy, and functional waterbodies that can fill this gap. Unlike other products that offer phosphorus binding, sludge reduction, or pH stabilization, this game-changing technology can do all three in a single application. Better yet, it provides sustained activity in the water for 4-6 weeks and it leaves nothing behind. No residues, no by-products… just clean, healthy water on top with considerably less organic sludge on the bottom following a single application.

Poor water quality and costly dredging can certainly be avoided to keep community residents happy and golfers playing on the course with little to no disruption to the surrounding grass and turf. Reducing man hours and long-term material costs with new innovations that provide quick results in lake and pond management is a huge benefit to all.

Natural water bodies in the US are trending in an unhealthy direction. Many different factors are playing a role in the overall degradation of the water quality in our lakes, ponds and other freshwater resources. Warming trends, increased surface runoff due to development, and the resulting nutrient pollution are some of the more notable negative impacts which often lead to eutrophication of our natural freshwater resources. Traditional methods have long been used to deal with the symptoms of increased eutrophication, but newer technologies offer a superior solution to address the root causes instead of just the symptoms of this phenomenon.

Eutrophication is a term describing a process in which excess nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) accumulate in a body of water, resulting in an increased growth of photosynthesizing species that can cause undesirable symptoms i.e. harmful algal blooms that can often be toxic to humans and animals. Excessive algal blooms are also often linked to fish kills that can occur from the resulting oxygen depletion

While eutrophication is a natural process that typically takes place over many hundreds of years, as intensified agricultural production, development, and other human activity has accelerated in the past 50 plus years, so has nutrient pollution. The surface water runoff of fertilizers, other nutrient-rich sediments, and wastewater treatment are the most significant contributors to this problem. These excess nutrients typically find their way into a body of water through stormwater runoff, where they then can be used as a food source for aquatic plants and algae to grow. When eutrophication occurs, high density blooms happen more frequently. The blooms invariably die off, with the degradation of this biomass by respiring bacteria leading to anoxic (low oxygen) conditions, which then leads to the demise of aerobic bacteria that help keep a body of water balanced. These anoxic conditions can be severe enough to kill invertebrates and fish, changing the entire aquatic ecosystem.

Excessive algae blooms interfere with the use and enjoyment of our surface waters, whether that be for drinking, recreation, irrigation, or natural aesthetics. Potentially more concerning are the human health concerns that result from the toxins that can be released by toxic algae (Cyanobacteria). These toxins have been linked to ALS, Alzheimer’s, Parkinsons, and other neurological and health disorders, which coincidentally or not, have also increased in prevalence over the same time period.

EPA registered aquatic herbicides and algaecides have long been used to keep the symptoms of nutrient pollution (i.e. algae) in check. Copper-based algaecides are the primary choice for lake and pond managers to control algae growth. As more people question the sustainability of this method, newer technologies have come to market focused on a preventive versus a reactive treatment approach, addressing the root causes versus just the symptoms. Products that either bind available phosphorus or increase the dissolved oxygen in water have grown in use in recent years, as both methods help to address the nutrient loading in water bodies by controlling nutrient cycling.

There is now a breakthrough technology, proven remarkably effective in Europe, that is now being introduced into the US. The formulation binds phosphates by driving the natural formation of apatite, eliminating it as a nutrient source while simultaneously releasing oxygen into the water body and helping to balance pH. Unlike typical phosphorus locking technologies, this superior solution leaves no residues or inert materials behind. This is the next phase of innovation that will be needed to solve the world’s water sustainability challenges.

Lake management is still in the early stages of a paradigm shift. Continued emphasis will be placed on solving the root causes of eutrophication and away from treating the symptoms of this phenomenon. While continued efforts to minimize the way that nutrient pollution gets into a water body are necessary, it is imperative that we work now to mitigate the lakes and ponds that are already impaired from years of excess nutrient accumulation. It is time to rethink our approach and reimagine what is possible.