Tampa launches buoys aimed at reducing blue-green algae in Hillsborough River

If you're planning on traveling the Hillsborough River, you may notice a new addition in one part. The City of Tampa installed two new buoys Monday, but they're not your average buoys. These buoys are equipped with technology to reduce blue-green algae in the water. Algae moves to the water surface for photosynthesis to grow and to the bottom of the water column for nutrients. The LG Sonic buoy uses ultrasonic sound waves to block algae's access to sunlight & nutrients. Algae sinks to the bottom and die off without releasing toxins. "This is going to reduce that. And it's going to help us maintain the algae growth that we usually see at this time of the year in the river," said John Ring, the City of Tampa Water Production Manager.