How Axius Water is helping small, rural communities stop nutrient pollution

The EPA and Axius Water share this mission: to improve public health and clean waterway protections for small, rural communities that rely on lagoon wastewater treatment.

Approximately 46 million people, or 14% of the U.S. population, live in small, rural communities that rely on low-cost, low-flow wastewater treatment— primarily lagoon systems. These communities often are among the lowest-income populations in the U.S.

Of 4,657 discharging lagoons, 2,619 release excessive nutrients into waterways, putting these vulnerable communities at risk. The majority of these lagoons are concentrated in areas where colder temperatures can impede nutrient removal. Many lagoon systems are also aging and have not been upgraded with equipment that allows them to meet or exceed current or future regulations. Not many cost-effective options exist that make it feasible for smaller communities to own or operate this critical infrastructure.*

In recognition of the fact that lagoons play a critical role in wastewater treatment, the EPA has created the Lagoon Task Force to spread awareness of lagoon systems and advance nutrient-removal technologies. Axius Water and our operating companies are proud to collaborate with the EPA in promoting better understanding of lagoons. Recently, representatives from Nexom participated in lectures for the Lagoon Task Force to share their extensive R&D on lagoon processes, along with success stories from many product implementations for lagoons that have benefited indigenous First Nations communities in Canada.

Improving wastewater treatment for underserved communities is an increasingly important part of our portfolio. In 2023, we added Triplepoint, an operating company that helps underserved communities upgrade their lagoon systems while enabling reduced maintenance and energy cost savings. Triplepoint sells solutions that rid lagoons of unwanted nutrients—all of which can be retrofitted into an existing lagoon without taking the system offline to promote ease of maintenance.

To address the lack of information about lagoon systems that persists, Triplepoint‘s Lagooniversity™ is an online training platform that:

• Delivers a comprehensive Lagoon Master Class, a 12- to 15-module certification program covering every aspect of lagoon systems from design to operation, to engineers and lagoon operators in need of professional development hours and continuing education units.
• Provides a deeper understanding of lagoon systems and processes, enabling more effective water management.

“Small towns are the heart of America. If we can help them have lagoon systems that can be operated at a lower cost and with less maintenance, we’re helping to maintain the viability of these communities.”

– Patrick Hill, Co-Founder, Triplepoint, an Axius Water company.

Learn more about Axius Water at www.axiuswater.com

*Source: https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/102576/eib-230.pdf and https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2022-10/Lagoon%20Action_Plan_FINAL.pdf