New Wastewater Treatment System Runs on Algae
Columbus Junction could count itself among pioneering cities in the struggle to treat wastewater if the city council approves new technology that favors algae over bacteria. If approved by DNR, Columbus Junction could be the first town to receive a commercial installation system. 
The new system would cost Columbus Junction about $2.2 million, while using the conventional method would cost the city about $4.5 million. The process is also the most sustainable and environmentally friendly on the market. The patent-pending revolving algal biofilm treatment technology, or RAB, grows micro algae on vertical belts that rotate in and out of the wastewater. During the rotation, nitrogen and phosphorus are transferred from the wastewater to the algae.
The algae also takes out ammonia and other contaminants from the wastewater. Then, workers can harvest the algae from the system and use it to create products such as biofuels, bioplastics and fertilizers.
