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Business Editors/Environment Writers |
TopEcology's BioPark System Addresses Zebra Mussel Infestation |
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KYOTO, JAPAN, Mar. 27 -/E-Wire/Business Wire/-- TopEcology International announced at the 3rd International Water Forum in Kyoto that their BioPark hydroponic biofilter system reduces the spread of sessile bivalves like Zebra mussels and quagga mussels in the US, and Kawahibarigai mussels in Japan and the rest of Asia.
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This is in addition to the BioPark's proven effectiveness in cleaning up and rehabilitating dying lakes and rivers caused by increased human activities.
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In the US, Zebra mussel infestation is causing billions of dollars in damage to power plants, municipal water systems and Great Lakes and Mississippi river basin shipping, and now threatens California. It virtually eliminates many species of native aquatic life. Kawahibarigai (Limnoperna fortunei) have been found in Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and most recently, South America.
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The application of the BioPark system for the reduction of such mussel infestation, for which a patent is pending, would be the first scalable method of reducing the spread of the aquatic pests by eliminating virtually 100% of Zebra mussel veliger/larvae that flow through its system. Current methods such as screens, filters, and chemical molluscicides have not been shown to accomplish the goal of controlling Zebra mussel infestation.
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Not only are many of these methods unsuccessful at controlling sessile bivalve population, but also some of these methods themselves can cause a negative impact. In addition, chemical toxicants for lake-wide control of zebra mussels are likely to be deadly to other aquatic life forms.
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Dennis Schornack, U.S. Chair of the International Joint Commission that overseas joint US and Canadian waterways including the Great Lakes, toured the BioPark facility in Lake Biwa while attending the 3rd Global Water Conference nearby. Lake Biwa is the largest lake in Japan. "I had the opportunity to see first hand the infestation of the Asiatic mussel in Lake Biwa, and the absence of the mussel in water flowing from the BioPark. The implications of this for the zebra mussel problem in the US is significant."
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"I knew from conversations with experts in my home state of Michigan that Zebra mussels were causing serious damage to the economy there, and throughout the Midwest," said Michael Novak, TopEcology International's Executive Vice President of International Operations. "We are now looking for pilot sites in the US to demonstrate its effectiveness."
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About TopEcology
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TopEcology's mission is to solve water issues that are affecting countries around the world. Their state-of-the-art, all natural research and development efforts address phytoremediation issues through their BioPark system, insufficient fresh water through the Aqua Kids solar powered desalination, and water reclamation through applied ecoengineering. Top Ecology recently expanded its operation through the launch of TopEcology International in the United States.
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For additional information please refer to TopEcology's website at www.topecology.com, or contact Michael Novak, Senior Vice President - International at mnovak@topecology.com.
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