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Martin Ecosystems

Baton Rouge, LA

225.292.6750
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Water Treatment

Wastewater Treatment Success Across the Globe

December 18, 2017

Wastewater Treatment

Our counterparts in New Zealand and Australia have seen great success in wastewater treatment on their side of the planet. Their stories inspire us and our vision to see the same wastewater treatment success here in the United States.

What can we learn from wastewater treatment operations in New Zealand?

Wastewater Treatment in New Zealand

Waterclean Technologies has introduced Floating Treatment Wetlands to New Zealand, becoming an industry leader for municipal wastewater treatment.

Waterclean states that Floating Treatment Wetlands are a low-cost choice for wastewater treatment: “The low-tech, biological nature of Floating Treatment Wetlands makes it a true low cost option. Compared with other water treatment solutions, very little capital expenditure and up skilling is required and the floating treatment wetlands has nominal maintenance costs.”

Waterclean is currently helping municipalities extend the productive life of existing assets by retrofitting floating treatment wetlands.

They’ve partnered with Spel Environmental, a family owned business across Australia, that specializes in stormwater and water quality improvement.

Spel has also found Floating Treatment Wetlands to be efficient and a low-cost means to enhance municipal wastewater treatment plants. Spel says, “You can retro-fit it to existing facilities with minimal cost or long-term overheads- or work the media into the design of new facilities with low operational costs… It also offers a truly environmentally-sound and sustainable way of cleaning water- something increasingly important to councils and municipalities.”                                                                              

Spel Waterclean Floating Wetlands Applications

These two companies have worked together to see a dramatic effect on municipal wastewater and stormwater applications.

They have found that Floating Wetlands can be positioned in loaded “hot-spots” in natural waterways to improve water quality. Beyond stream and lake restoration, they also make beautiful environmentally-enhancing features in waterbodies in facilities such as parks and zoos. Because they are so visually appealing, they make stunning landscaping features for private residential projects as well.

 A Solution to Cleaning Wastewater for Communities Everywhere

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, America’s wastewater infrastructure was recently given a grade of D+, and the cost to fix this problem has been estimated to cost $271 billion over 20 years. As seen in New Zealand and Australia, Floating Treatment Wetlands are a green, innovative, and cost-effective solution for cleaning wastewater everywhere that can save thousands of dollars in capital and operational costs.

Contact us to learn more about this innovative solution to your wastewater treatment needs!

 

Filed Under: Storm Water Tagged With: floating treatment wetlands, Innovative Solutions, Martin Ecosystems, natural water treatment, wastewater treatment, water quality, Water Treatment

The Double Impact Floating Islands Are Making Along the Chicago River Waterfront

October 4, 2017

This month we’re sharing a beautification case study of our floating islands at work in Chicago, IL. Once considered a grungy area of town, the Chicago Riverwalk is now an attraction that has added value to the windy city. Five areas were constructed, including the Marina, The Cove, Water Plaza, the Jetty and the Boardwalk through an initiative to improve the environment for the enjoyment of not only Chicagoans, but also for the inhabitants beneath the surface of the water. Along the Riverwalk you will find fountains, mists and sprays for children to play in along with seating and staircases, but the Jetty has an educational focus.

The Work of Floating Islands in The Jetty

This section of the Riverwalk includes floating wetlands and water gardens along the piers, providing an opportunity for people to learn about the river’s ecology and search for fish. Because of The Jetty the aquatic species beneath the surface now have better living conditions as floating islands work diligently to remove contaminants in the water. Sasaki Associates, one of the architect organizations that led this beautification project, says that floating Islands “provide a healthy habitat for the Chicago River’s diverse native fish population, as well as educational and recreational opportunities for visitors to observe and interact with the aquatic ecosystem.” We’re connecting people with the wonder of nature by bringing nature to them through floating islands.

Beyond Beautification

Sasaki Principal and landscape architect Gina Ford of ASLA started off with the thought of creating an experimental “fish hotel”. A critical element of the aquatic ecosystem are the plants in the floating islands whose roots enable biofilm to grow and filter river water. The Chicago Riverwalk’s “unique plant palette” was designed by Terry Ryan, ASLA, of Jacobs/Ryan Associates. What is so fascinating about this case study is that floating islands are a part of an elaborate design that provides aesthetic beauty to the Chicago River but also makes a huge impact on the environment. Sasaki says, “The Jetty falls in line with understanding that truly sustainable design accounts for the whole environment—not only for humans, but also for all species of wildlife and plants potentially impacted by a design.”

The Chicago River was once polluted and uninviting but it has come quite a long way. With the construction improvements, the mindset of the riverfront of Chicago has changed and it has become yet another place for Chicagoans to gather. We’re thrilled to play a role in this project by helping educate the public, improving water quality for aquatic life, and providing beauty that invites people to the waterfront. Click here to learn more about our floating islands and how they work both below and above the surface of the water.

Here’s a behind the scenes look at the installation process of our floating islands:

Filed Under: Beautification Tagged With: environmental education, environmental solutions, environmental technology, floating islands, Martin Ecosystems, water quality, Water Treatment

Our Solution for Stormwater Treatment

September 6, 2017

Martin Ecosystems Floating Treatment Wetlands stormwater research

We’re already off to a very rocky start for this year’s hurricane season. As we track storms and prepare ourselves for the season, we want to bring to your attention the tremendous effects that stormwater has on our environment when left untreated. In this blog, we’ll explain the challenges that our planet is facing and how Martin Ecosystems is a part of the solution.

The Challenge

Stormwater is water that originates during precipitation and is soaked into the soil or held on the surface in streams, rivers, and other waterbodies, creating a challenge for communities everywhere. Many of our coastal waters, estuaries, rivers, streams, and lakes are defective as a result of pollution and/or physical alterations, with phosphorus and nitrogen pollution being just one of the problems.

This problem is so bad that the EPA reports that 55% of our nation’s rivers and streams do not support healthy populations of aquatic life. The demand for clean water continues to increase, therefore increasing the demand for cost-effective solutions to improve the environment.

The Solution

Floating Treatment Wetlands are a part of the solution. FTW is an innovative green infrastructure tool that provides stormwater treatment, value to communities, and cost competitiveness. With a strong background based on science and independent research, the FTW system improves stormwater naturally, while also improving habitats and aesthetic value.

Studies Prove that FTW are Highly Effective in Stormwater Treatment

 

  • Pasco County Master Reuse System

Pasco County, in Florida, has a vision to serve over 25,000 residential reclaimed water customers, and they are currently serving 12,000. The County is facing the challenge of lowering total nitrogen concentrations in their reclaimed water. One strategy they have pursued is to passively use storage facilities to reduce total nitrogen.

As a possible storage system enhancement, our Floating Wetland Islands (FWI) were studied in an 18-month controlled study. The results revealed that total nitrogen treatment was superior with the presence of Floating Wetland Islands! Removal efficiency for total nitrogen was measured to be approximately 63% during the study. Average total nitrogen concentrations were reduced on average from 6.4 mg/L to 2.4 mg/L.

Source: CH2MHILL  

 

  • Field Study Trial

A field trial study with side-by-side monitoring of two parallel stormwater treatment ponds, one of which contained a floating treatment wetland (FTW), was carried out to assess the benefit of retrofitting a conventional retention pond with a FTW. Inflow and outflow event mean concentrations (EMCs) were quantified and used to assess the overall pollutant removal efficiency of each system.

Findings show that a FTW can significantly improve the runoff water quality and thus reduce the impact on the receiving environment! The present study reveals that a pond retrofit with a FTW would be more efficient than a conventional retention pond, exhibiting a 41% (for total suspended solids – TSS), 40% (for particulate zinc – PZn), 39% (for particulate copper – PCu) and 16% (for dissolved copper – DCu) lower effluent EMC.

Source: Ecological Engineering

 

Floating Treatment Wetlands (FTW) are an innovative solution engineered to enhance the natural processes that occur between water, plants, and micro organisms in order to remove contaminants from wastewater and stormwater in a passive and natural way. Click here to read in depth more about how this product works to clean water beneath the surface.

 

Filed Under: Storm Water Tagged With: environmental solutions, environmental technology, floating treatment wetlands, Martin Ecosystems, natural water treatment, Nitrogen Mass Reduction, Stormwater Treatment, Water Treatment

Floating Island Technology: How We Use Recycled Consumer Waste to Create Sustainable Environmental Solutions

August 3, 2017


We use recycled plastic to protect shorelines, improve water quality and create wildlife habitat through our Floating Island Technology. How are we doing this? It starts with the Matrix.

Matrix-The Foundation of our Products
Matrix is the Foundation of our products. It is made from 100% recycled PET plastic drinking bottles  and the matrix fibers are thermal bonded with water based resins. It has a strong tensile and tear strength.

The matrix is an open cell structure making it ideal for biofilm attachment and sediment accumulation. It has approximately 124 square feet per cubic foot of surface area. It has also been tested by an independent lab and is non-toxic to fish.

Our Commitment to Environmental Safety
We are committed to providing the safest products. PET used in the matrix material is resistant to attack by micro-organisms. It is inert, won’t biologically degrade and will not leach, which is why it is widely preferred for packaging foods.

PET is also inherently more UV resistant than other plastics, like polypropylene, because of its molecular structure.

At Martin Ecosystems, we’ve gone a step further by coating our products with polyurea coating. The particular polyurea that we use is perfect for marine environments because it is inert, it will not hydrolyze, leach or contaminate. It provides UV protection, contains no VOCs and is direct food contact approved.

How Floating Island Technology Can Improve Our Environment:

  • Protect shorelines of lakes, ponds, and wetlands.
  • Create new marsh habitat where wetlands are eroding away.
  • Remove unwanted pollutants such as Total Suspended Solids, Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), fecal coliforms, nitrogen and phosphorus in stormwater and wastewater ponds.
  • Create habitat for wildlife, water fowl, and fisheries.
  • Create picturesque waterscapes.

Shoreline Protection

Research has shown that Floating Breakwaters are most effective at attenuating short period waves, such as wind chop.

Marsh Creation

With so much wetland erosion taking place today, wildlife and water fowl are losing their native habitats. By strategically installing Floating Breakwaters, we can create new marsh habitat.

Water Treatment

Floating Treatment Wetlands provide a foundation for plants to grow hydroponically. The open and porous matrix allows roots to spread and bacteria and microbes to attach. Microbes and bacteria attach to the plant roots and matrix fibers, creating a sticky biofilm. Total Suspended Solids are trapped in the biofilm or settle to the water bottom. Bacteria and microbes digest organic matter and pollutants such as Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Fecal Coliform, Nitrogen and Phosphorus.

Floating Treatment Wetlands are beneficial to rural and small towns still operating lagoon systems because they can be retrofit into existing lagoons, ultimately saving towns from having to spend millions in capital and construction costs.

They require very little maintenance. Vegetation should be trimmed 2-3 times a year.

Habitat Creation

Fish congregate beneath Islands for shade and cover. Birds lay their eggs on Islands away from predators on land near by.

 

Beautify Waterscapes

Our Floating Islands beautify waterscapes.

The Chicago Riverwalk Restoration is a great example of how to incorporate Floating Islands into a waterscape for beautification.

For every square foot of matrix that we use to manufacture our products we are recycling 3 (16 oz) bottles. This prevents thousands of plastic water bottles from trashing our environment and entering our landfills.

Filed Under: Beautification, Erosion Control, Storm Water, Waste Water Tagged With: biohaven floating islands, environmental education, floating treatment wetlands, habitat conservation, Innovative Solutions, Recycling, Stormwater Treatment, Water Treatment

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Baton Rouge, LA 70809
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Copyright © 2021 · Martin Ecosystems

Melanie Martin

Melanie Martin

Director of Finance and Administration

“I want to be a part of something that is bigger than myself and allows me to make a difference for future generations.”

Working alongside her family to protect and rebuild the Louisiana coastline was the reason Melanie chose to become a partner in starting Martin Ecosystems. She wanted to be a part of the movement to protect and rebuild the marshes in which she spent so much time as a child.

In her current role, she is in charge of the company’s financial operations. Before entering the financial world, Melanie received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her art and design background allows her to create specified drawings for products and job proposals.

Chad Martin

Chad Martin

Director of Manufacturing

“It is important that every customer is happy with their purchase. I will do what I can to make sure they are satisfied with the end result.”

A founding partner of Martin Ecosystems, Chad earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business with a minor in Finance from Montana State University-Billings. Prior to joining the company, he was a residential and commercial building contractor for nearly a decade.

As Director of Manufacturing, Chad’s duties include overseeing product manufacturing, purchasing, inventory, packaging and shipping. He is also responsible for Martin Ecosystems quality control and assurance program as well as corporate safety. He also coordinates and oversees all of Martin Ecosystems’ installations.

When not at work, Chad enjoys spending his time hunting and fishing.

Jason Martin

Jason Martin

Director of Operations

“I enjoy working with our customers every day. My philosophy is to treat people like I would like to be treated—with honesty and integrity.”

Jason studied business management at Montana State University-Billings before starting Martin Ecosystems with his family in 2008. His prior experience in project management and commercial sales provided him with the skills to manage the sales department at Martin Ecosystems. Jason oversees product sales, customer service, and distributor relations. He also enjoys pitching in from time to time to assist with installations, which allows him to gain additional insight into what the customer needs. Spending most of his free time fishing and hunting gives Jason an appreciation of the outdoors. Over time he has witnessed the erosion and loss of family land in South Louisiana and strongly believes BioHaven® Floating Breakwaters, EcoShield® and EcoBale would reverse the trend of Louisiana’s land loss.

Nicole Waguespack

Nicole Martin Waguespack

President

“I believe in doing things right the first time, being honest, and delivering what we say we are going to deliver. I want customers to be satisfied not only with our products, but also our level of service. I think customers appreciate that.”

Martin Ecosystems was founded on a desire to protect and restore the Louisiana coast, and Nicole has been a partner in the company since its beginning in 2008. A graduate of Louisiana State University, Nicole’s science background allows insight into how Martin Ecosystems products work, as well as what it takes to bring them to market. Nicole’s primary responsibility is marketing and advertising, yet she is also involved in product development and research coordination. She has been instrumental in expanding the product lines into new markets, including waste water and stormwater management. Outside of the office, Nicole loves spending time with her husband and daughters. It is her hope that Martin Ecosystems products will provide her children the opportunity to grow up experiencing the remarkable beauty of the Louisiana coast—just as she did.

Ted Martin

Ted Martin

Owner, Founder

“It is not always about making the sale, but developing relationships with those individuals who have the same goal of protecting our environment.”

Establishing and managing businesses is nothing new to Ted, whose history includes a number of successful companies with millions in annual sales. So when he saw the opportunity to manufacture and sell a product that could play a key role in coastal restoration—and work with his family to do it—he knew it was the right choice.

Having earned a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering at Louisiana State University, Ted applies his knowledge as a member of the product development team. He is involved in every aspect of the business, including product design, implementing sales strategies, managing customer relations and product promotion.

Ted credits his father for Martin Ecosystem’s philosophy of exceptional customer service which is clearly evident throughout the company. He hopes that his children will continue this legacy for many years to come.