BioLargo Spotlight: The BioLargo AOS in the Age of COVID

BioLargo’s AOS water treatment technology is designed to offer effective, energy-efficient disinfection for water and wastewater. As of this writing, the AOS is at the stage of transitioning from demonstration pilots to commercial trials. We hope that soon, the AOS will be enabling affordable wastewater treatment and reuse for customers across the continent. 

Given the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, we often get asked how our AOS technology could help address viral water disinfection. Today we want to share our thoughts on this subject.

Water and wastewater are well-known to be a potential transmission route for viruses – typically enteric viruses (those that cause gastrointestinal illnesses). In fact, enteric viruses such as adenovirus, rotavirus, and norovirus are significant contributors to the millions of deaths from diarrhea that occur each year, with rotavirus being the leading cause of acute diarrhea in children under the age of five (Gall, et al, 2015).  Coronaviruses like SARS-CoV-2, and influenza have been detected in wastewater, although transmission to humans from wastewater has not yet been documented (WHO, 2011).

BioLargo Water anticipates that the current Covid-19 pandemic will create  momentum for more widespread, effective viral water disinfection systems, as existing dominant water disinfection technologies like UV and chlorination have potential shortcomings in eliminating viruses (Simmons and Xagoraraki, 2011), in addition to typically being costly and/or energy inefficient.

BioLargo Water’s AOS water treatment technology has already been proven effective in inactivating and removing viruses when tested using standard laboratory virus surrogates like MS2. The system’s active disinfecting agents – iodine compounds – have a long history of safe, effective use against viruses. To that end, BioLargo Water presents the AOS as an effective, affordable, and energy-efficient option for viral water disinfection in a new age of increased scrutiny on public health measures. The company is actively seeking funding – both public and through private investment – to prove its technology works against SARS-CoV-2.

We are entering a new era of public awareness and heightened expectations on public health measures. BioLargo Water anticipates that the increased scrutiny on disinfection measures will be a major market driver for new and existing disinfection technologies, and the company intends to help fill new market gaps for highly effective, cost-effective solutions.

BioLargo Water currently has a crowdfunding opportunity open on the WaterWorks Crowdfunding platform through its parent company BioLargo Water Investment Group. To learn more about this opportunity to invest in BioLargo Water, go to www.waterworksfund.com.