Atlanta-based AquaSmart offers a unique water treatment additive made from 100% food-grade ingredients that continuously keeps ortho-phosphate and polyphosphate in equilibrium, but without forming a layer of mineral scale inside of water pipes.
How big is your company and where does it operate?
Aqua Smart is a global company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. We are part of the Colonial Group, a large privately held 101-year-old family business operating out of Savannah, Georgia.
What does your company do related to phosphorus sustainability?
We produce a corrosion control product called SeaQuest which uses significantly less phosphorus for drinking water corrosion control. As a result, the amount of phosphorus sent to wastewater treatment plants is reduced.
What’s your business model?
We produce SeaQuest in Atlanta and ship it around the world. In some more remote countries, we leverage a network of distributors. In the US, we primarily sell directly to drinking water municipalities.
What are the biggest challenges you face?
Inertia. Technical solutions which require a different way of thinking take a long time for some utilities, engineers, and regulators to adopt.
Where do you see the biggest opportunities for advancing phosphorus sustainability?
Understanding that in the US, the changes to the lead and copper drinking water rules which take effect in 2024 will produce an increase in phosphorus consumption and a subsequent increase in wastewater treatment demand. Much focus is placed on agricultural runoff; however, the drinking water treatment stream can be as much as 35% of the wastewater load per EPA.
What’s been your biggest sustainability win?
Most recently we were awarded business at Las Cruces, New Mexico, which will reduce customer complaints about dirty water while using less phosphorus.