Algae Mitigation System Enshrined as “David Buoy” on a Municipal Plaque
The small town of Berthoud, Colorado (pop. 10,000) was so excited about their new LG Sonic MPC-Buoy that the water department held a contest for elementary school students to name it. Besides being the town’s supply of drinking water, the 53-acre Berthoud Reservoir is a popular hiking and fishing spot. The winning name, submitted by Georgia Hills of Berthoud, voted on by the people, and announced by proclamation at Berthoud’s Town Hall meeting on September 13 – is “David Buoy.”
It’s an especially appropriate name for the ultrasonic MPC-Buoy, because the system functions exactly like music – to control algae, the AI-powered buoy constantly monitors and changes its frequency, amplitude and interval. In fact, LG Sonic co-founder, Yousef Yousef, has sometimes been called “The Algae Maestro.”
“The naming contest was a fun way to bring attention to some of the interesting technology we use to maintain the Town’s water source,” said Ken Matthews, director of water utilities with the Town of Berthoud. “The naming contest was a fun way to bring attention to some of the interesting technology we use to maintain the Town’s water source. I hope that it inspires people to learn a little more about hydro-technology and what goes into providing potable water to a town like Berthoud.”
Paid for in part with a grant from the American Rescue Plan Act and Larimer County, the solar-powered, ultrasonic water treatment unit eliminates 95% of existing algae, predicts new blooms more than a week before they start, and sends real-time water quality reports to the Town’s water treatment plant.