SARASOTA COUNTY- Last year’s red tide bloom is still on the communities’ mind.
Suncoast residents are looking for ways to help reduce nutrient runoff. Progressive Water Resources is working with Lakewood Ranch to install a system including sand, wood chips and biochar to remove nutrients from the reclaimed wastewater it buys from Manatee County.
They say wood chips and sawdust, plus a little biochar provide a perfect filter to remove nitrogen, since the wood provides food for the bacteria and microbes that then reduce the amount of nitrogen.