STUART, Fla., Sept. 23, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ecosphere Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: ESPH ), a water engineering, technology licensing and innovative U.S. manufacturing company, today announced it has filed a series of environmental patent applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. These patent filings teach a method to use Ecosphere's patented Ozonix® water treatment technology to increase and maintain desired oxygen levels in the C-44 Canal (St. Lucie Canal) that feeds the St. Lucie Estuary and Indian River Lagoon. The St. Lucie Estuary and Indian River Lagoon are one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in North America, with more than 4,000 plant and animal species, including 36 endangered and threatened species.
"We are proposing to use our patented Ozonix® technology to balance ORP (Oxygen Reduction Potential) levels in the Lake Okeechobee discharge canals," stated Dennis McGuire, Chairman and CEO of Ecosphere. "By setting up Ozonix® systems in fixed based strategic locations along the discharge canals as well as on Ozonix® boats to respond to specific algae blooms and low ORP areas in the river and lagoon, we have the ability to add millions of gallons of highly-oxygenated, bacteria free water per day to the discharge canals."
McGuire continued, "The goal is to have highly oxygenated, bacteria-free water entering the St. Lucie Estuary and Indian River Lagoon to prevent toxic algae blooms from continuing to negatively impact the lagoon, its species and local residents' enjoyment of the river. We believe that we can do this through the use of our patented and proven Ozonix® technology."
As part of a demonstration on September 8 th for world-renowned ocean explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau, Congressman Patrick Murphy and local Martin County officials, Ecosphere treated actual C-44 Canal water through its patented Ozonix® technology. The influent water had an average ORP of 120, which is similar to ORP levels in the Dead Sea. As a result, Ecosphere is recommending to blend highly oxidative Ozonix® treated water with the discharge canal water at ratios of approximately 1 gallon of Ozonix® water to 1,000-2,000 gallons of C-44 Canal water.
Ecosphere believes that a 300-350 ORP range can be maintained across the C-44 Canal from Port Mayaca to the St. Lucie Locks using its patented and patent pending Ozonix® process. This will produce a healthy canal system that will help to restore the Indian River Lagoon and St. Lucie Estuary while still allowing fresh water discharges to continue as needed. Further testing with US Army Corps of Engineers officials and marine scientists would be needed to determine proper mixture ratios to maintain the most optimum ORP levels in the canal.
Ocean Pioneer and Environmentalist, Jean-Michel Cousteau stated, "The Indian River Lagoon and St. Lucie Estuary is an American treasure and we must do everything we can to protect it so that our present and future generations can enjoy the natural beauty, commercial and recreational fishery, and habitat that it provides for so many species of fish, birds, dolphins, and manatees."
Cousteau continued, "Having previously served on the Ecosphere Technologies Board of Directors and having been a part of Ecosphere Technologies since the Company was founded in 1999, I am very familiar with the range of technologically complex water pollution issues that Ecosphere has successfully tackled throughout the world without the use of toxic chemicals. It is gratifying to now bring this technology to bear on issues threatening the Company's home waters. I am pleased to have met with the Congressman Patrick Murphy, as well as a wide variety of scientists, local officials and concerned citizens that have all joined forces to study the current issues facing the Indian River Lagoon and St. Lucie Estuary."
For more information on the September 8 th Lake Okeechobee demonstration, please visit: http://www.ecospheretech.com/water-recycling-...st?id=5094
About Ecosphere Technologies
Ecosphere Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: ESPH ) is a water engineering, technology licensing and innovative U.S. manufacturing company that develops environmental water treatment solutions for industrial markets throughout the world. The Company is a leader in emerging advanced oxidation processes and has an extensive portfolio of intellectual property that includes five United States patents for the Ecosphere Ozonix® process. The patented Ecosphere Ozonix® process is a revolutionary advanced oxidation process that is currently being used by customers to reduce costs, increase treatment efficiencies and eliminate harmful chemicals from wastewater treatment operations around the United States. Ozonix® can be used to replace chemicals in a wide variety of industries and applications, including but not limited to agriculture, energy, environmental, food and beverage, industrial, mining, marine, and municipal wastewater treatment.
In 2013, Ecosphere was chosen by Bloomberg as a New Energy Pioneer and selected by IHS CERAWeek as a 2013 Energy Innovation Pioneer. Ecosphere is also a recipient of the 2013 American Technology Award - "Clean Tech/Green Tech" category and the 2012 Frost & Sullivan North American Product Leadership Award in Disinfection Equipment for Shale Oil and Gas Wastewater Treatment. In addition, Ecosphere has been chosen for the Artemis "Top 50 Water Tech" Listing for the last three years.
Since 2008, Fidelity National Environmental Solutions, formerly Ecosphere Energy Services, has enabled oil and gas customers to treat, recycle and reuse over 3 billion gallons of water on more than 800 oil and natural gas wells.
For more information, please visit www.EcosphereTech.com .
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Investor Relations: Gary Dvorchak, CFA Senior Vice President ICR, Inc. +1 (310) 954-1123 Press and Media Relations: Brian Ruby Vice President ICR, Inc. +1 (203) 682-8268 Company: Corey McGuire Director of Marketing Ecosphere Technologies, Inc. +1 (772) 287-4846
