PHOS-X

Aluminum sulfate, or alum, has an affinity for phosphorus. In water, alum assumes a cotton-candy-like form, “a nice fluffy floc”.  This floc (short for flocculation) grabs phosphorus and other particles as it settles to the bottom of the pond or lake, rapidly enhancing the clarity of the water. There is an immediate impact.  But quick clarity is just the beginning. Alum floc rests in the sediment and continues to bind phosphorus for years, even decades. Legacy phosphorus stays stuck in the sediment, starving potentially harmful algae in the pond. Dosing lakes and ponds with alum is not a new practice—it was first tested in Sweden back in the 1960’s. But it is gaining popularity as water managers battle the specter of legacy phosphorus fueling algae blooms. More than 2,000 alum-treated lakes and ponds support a growing body of evidence for the efficacy. The science of alum has advanced substantially and continues to advance every year. EXTENDED DESCRIPTION PHOS-X represents a revoluti