Triple A S.A. E.S.P., the utility responsible for supplying drinking water to approximately 15 municipalities in the Barranquilla region, has installed two MPC-Buoys at the Dársena Río Magdalena — a key river intake on the Magdalena River. The project focuses on algae control at the river intake to improve the quality of safe drinking water reaching the communities Triple A serves.
Why Algae Control at River Intakes Matters
The Magdalena River is Colombia’s most important freshwater source and the main origin of drinking water for Barranquilla and its surrounding communities. Raw water is collected at the Dársena Río Magdalena — a semi-enclosed basin connected to the river — before being pumped to five drinking water treatment facilities serving the region.
Because the basin is separated from the fast-flowing main river, water moves much more slowly inside it. While this helps heavier particles settle out, it also creates calm, stagnant-like conditions where algae can easily grow. The river carries heavy sediment loads and receives wastewater discharges from domestic, industrial, and commercial sources in Barranquilla and Soledad. Heavy rainfall washes even more sediment into the river and carries it into the basin. This increases the burden on downstream treatment processes. This places additional strain on treatment infrastructure and increases operational costs for drinking water utilities.
Water Quality Complaints Trigger Utility Action
Residents served by Triple A raised concerns about the taste, smell, and appearance of their tap water — complaints that drew the attention of local authorities, including the mayor and the Senate of the Republic of Colombia. This prompted the utility to look for solutions that address the problem at its source, before water reaches the treatment plants.
Internally, the utility faced additional challenges. Algae was building up inside the large settling tanks used during treatment, requiring regular shutdowns for cleaning and increasing operational costs. The heavy use of chlorine-based chemicals was also occasionally leaving an unpleasant taste in the finished water supply. Reducing chemical dosing in water treatment is one of the key benefits utilities report after deploying ultrasonic technology.
MPC-Buoys Deployed for Algae Control at the River Intake
Triple A identified algae growth inside the intake basin as a key factor undermining water quality and selected LG Sonic’s MPC-Buoys to tackle the problem directly at the river intake — before it affects the treatment process.
Each MPC-Buoy emits ultrasonic waves that disrupt algae buoyancy so they sink and naturally break down in the water column — without the use of chemicals and without harming aquatic life. The buoys also continuously monitor water quality, giving operators real-time data on conditions inside the basin.
By controlling algae at the river intake, the system helps reduce the frequency of settling tank cleanouts and lowers the need for chemical dosing. This improves drinking water quality and taste for the communities served by Triple A. The utility installed two MPC-Buoys this week at the Dársena Río Magdalena.
Looking Ahead
Over the coming months, Triple A and LG Sonic will assess the system’s impact on algae levels, treatment efficiency, and chemical use. This project highlights how targeted algae control at river intakes can serve as an effective first line of defense for drinking water utilities — and sets a strong example for similar installations across Colombia and Latin America.