OUR RESULTS
Beneficial Phytoplankton: The Results Seen Through Ponds and Lakes
A fair question comes up whenever a water treatment method is new: is it actually proven, or is it just a good idea? For Hydralife's beneficial phytoplankton, the answer is written in the water chemistry of real ponds and lakes. This is our field record: named clients, baselines nutrient readings, independent laboratory confirmation, and progression and results documented across a full growing season. The results below come from municipal park lakes, golf course irrigation ponds, and private ponds. Hydralife's approach is shows real results. Hydralife seeks to be of assistance to more lake managers and bodies of water and welcomes any and all conversations - service@hydralifesolutions.com - 303-219-0623
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Nutrients reported for every water body: ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and phosphate
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Water bodies on this page, from park lakes to golf course irrigation ponds
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Independent water analysis confirmations at Ravenna: Brookside Laboratories and a Metro State University.
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Growing seasons on record: 2024, 2025, and 2026 with sustainable results from the spring through fall.
Field record kept by Hydralife Solutions. Last updated October 2026.
The complete results: all four nutrients, before and after
Every water body below shows its full water analysis and the reduction of those nutrients after the use of Hydralife's phytoplankton solution . NH4 is ammonia, NO2 is nitrite, NO3 is nitrate, and PO4 is phosphate. All readings are in parts per million (ppm).
WATER BODY
AMMONIA (NH4), NITRITE (NO2), NITRATE (NO3), PHOSPHATE (PO4), IN PPM
Ravenna Country Club
Littleton, Colorado. Golf course irrigation pond, Refilled nightly with wastewater effluent. Steve Datwyler - Director of Agronomy
Baseline, 6/10/2026: NH4 1.0, NO2 0, NO3 0, PO4 0.5
Follow up, 6/19/2026: NH4 under 0.25, NO2 0, NO3 0, PO4 0.25
Follow up, 7/29/2026: NH4 almost 0, NO2 0, NO3 5, PO4 almost 0
Follow up, 9/30/2026: NH4 0, NO2 0, NO3 0, PO4 almost 0
Lily Pond, Washington Park
Denver, Colorado. Children's fishing pond, under a toxic algae advisory in May 2026.
Baseline, May 2026: NH4 0.5, NO2 0, NO3 5, PO4 0.25
Follow up, 6/19/2026: NH4 0, NO2 0, NO3 5, PO4 0
Follow up, 8/19/2026: NH4 0, NO2 0, NO3 5, PO4 0
City Park Golf Course
Denver, Colorado. Municipal golf course irrigation pond, replenished daily by a wastewater treatment facility.
Baseline, 7/26/2024: NH4 0.25, NO2 0.25, NO3 20, PO4 0.25
Follow up, 8/3/2024: NH4 0, NO2 0, NO3 10, PO4 0
Denver Lake
Denver, Colorado. A private body of water.
Baseline, 7/06/2026: NH4 0.5, NO2 0, NO3 5, PO4 0.25
Water analysis, 8/7/2026: NH4 0, NO2 0, NO3 5, PO4 0
Private pond
Ohio. Spring fed, newly constructed in 2025.
Baseline, 4/17/2025: NH4 0.5, NO2 0, NO3 0, PO4 0.25
Follow up, 6/30/2025: NH4 0, NO2 0, NO3 0, PO4 between 0 and .25
Baseline, 4/3/2026: NH4 0.5, NO2 0, NO3 0, PO4 0.5
Follow up, 7/20/2026: NH4 0, NO2 0, NO3 0, PO4 0
SouthRidge Golf Course, Hole 11
Fort Collins, Colorado. Municipal golf course irrigation pond.
Baseline, 5/22/2026: NH4 0.25, NO2 0, NO3 0, PO4 0.25
Follow up, 6/5/2026: NH4 less than 0.25, NO2 0, NO3 less than 5, PO4 barely detectable, almost 0
How the method works
Hydralife produces live concentrated beneficial phytoplankton. This phytoplankton consumes nitrogen and phosphorus in ponds, lakes, and reservoirs. Every species we grow is chosen against the same criteria: high nutrient uptake, common presence in United States freshwater, excellent food source for zooplankton, they improve dissolved oxygen levels, they all utilize luxury uptake (the ability to consume and store more phosphate than they need to grow), they have high daily growth rates when the conditions are right, and they live in a subtropical temperature range which causes the population to crash on its own as water cools and daylight drops. These are freshwater green microalgae commonly found in lakes and ponds across the country. Our photobioreactor lets us isolate species and build regional combinations, so a customized treatment can be matched to what already lives in the target water rather than introduced to it for those seeking a specific type of solution.
Hydralife's approach uses natural phytoplankton instead of chemical treatments like copper, peroxide or algaecides. Once the phytoplankton establishes itself. Our method is designed for nutrient rich waters or for lakes that could use a boost of good phytoplankton. Simply stated, the beneficial phytoplankton (good algae) competes with bad algae for nutrients which hinders the development of bad algae (toxic algae, cyanobacteria, filamentous algae or nuisance algae).
How to read the numbers
Every value below is in parts per million (ppm). Our results have been confirmed by an independent laboratory and university. Ammonia (NH4) is the most toxic nitrogen form and a primary food for phytoplankton, algae, macrophytes and aquatic plants. Phosphate (PO4) is the nutrient most closely tied to harmful algae blooms. Phosphate is known as the "limiting nutrient" since cyanobacteria must pull it from the water column in order to develop. When a lake is fed by an inflow, the clearest proof is the gap between the nutrient rich water coming in and the far cleaner water in the pond, which shows the phytoplankton consuming nutrients as they arrive.
The field record
GOLF COURSE IRRIGATION POND. LITTLETON, COLORADO. 2026 SEASON
Ravenna Country Club: A platinum country club with lab-verified results
FULL WATER ANALYSIS, IN PPM. NH4 AMMONIA, NO2 NITRITE, NO3 NITRATE, PO4 PHOSPHATE
Baseline, 6/10/2026: NH4 1.0, NO2 0, NO3 0, PO4 0.5
End Result, 9/30/2026: NH4 under 0, NO2 0, NO3 0, PO4 almost 0
At Ravenna Country Club near Littleton, Colorado, their irrigation pond is refilled each night with roughly hundreds of thousands of gallons of nutrient rich effluent water from Castle Rock wastewater treatment facilities. Ravenna's Director of Agronomy, Steve Datwyler, is always looking for better techniques to improve his course, turf, irrigation programs, water management and his guest experience. After a single 100 gallon inoculation of concentrated phytoplankton in the spring of 2026, ammonia in the irrigation pond fell from 1.0 ppm to under 0.25 ppm in just a couple of weeks, and phosphate dropped to a barely detectable level. From there, all of Steve's phosphate and dissolved nitrogen levels fell to barely detectable levels and they held at those levels through the spring, summer and fall seasons. For the first time in six years, Datwyler observed no surface filamentous algae on the pond, fewer aquatic plants and the best looking pond he had seen to date on his course. The pond also experienced a huge zooplankton bloom (daphnia) in June that ranged across the entire shoreline. In July 2026, Brookside Laboratories independently confirmed the ammonia, nitrate, and phosphate results. In August 2026 a student of Metro State University confirmed low nutrients as well which was significantly better than other waters she sampled on Colorado's front range.
During late August of 2026, the Castle Rock city pumps that fed the irrigation pond failed and Ravenna was without water for an entire week during one of the hottest weeks of the summer. When the water returned, Steve and his grounds crew observed that his turf rebounded spectacularly and much faster than they expected. They attributed some of this to irrigating phytoplankton from their irrigation pond into their turf, since phytoplankton is an excellent soil biostimulant and biome enhancer.
Ravenna reported cutting third party pond maintenance expenses by about 80 percent as well as a significant reduction in the labor they previously allotted to their waters.
Datwyler was very pleased with the results, will continue to utilize Hydralife's methods in 2027 and will use this program as well as his other work to pursue an Audubon certification for the Ravenna Country Club.
"The pond that you treated looks great. No algae pressure with the heat, and in years past we would have seen some pressure by now."
Steve Datwyler, Director of Agronomy and Superintendent, Ravenna Country Club, 2026
PUBLIC PARK POND. DENVER, COLORADO. 2026 SEASON
Lily Pond: a lifted cyanobacteria advisory
FULL WATER ANALYSIS, IN PPM. NH4 AMMONIA, NO2 NITRITE, NO3 NITRATE, PO4 PHOSPHATE
Baseline, May 2026: NH4 0.5, NO2 0, NO3 5, PO4 0.25
End Result, 8/19/2026: NH4 0, NO2 0, NO3 5, PO4 0
Lily Pond is a children's fishing pond in Denver's Washington Park that carried a posted public health advisory for toxic algae in mid May 2026. Denver's Lake Manager, who has run the city's Lake Management Program for nearly three decades, selected it for Hydralife because cyanobacteria and nutrients are historically problematic in the pond. After a 100 gallon inoculation, nutrients fell to near undetectable levels by early June. Denver's Lake Manager confirmed the cyanobacteria advisory was lifted, and the pond did not post another advisory for the rest of the season. Nutrient levels held to undetectable levels throughout the spring, summer and fall. Not only that, but the entire shoreline was teeming with wide varieties of fish fry, invertebrates and aquatic life.
"It is nice to see a lake behaving. We will look to add another lake or two for Hydralife next year."
Lake Manager, Denver Parks and Recreation, 2026
GOLF COURSE IRRIGATION POND. DENVER, COLORADO. 2024 SEASON
City Park Golf: near zero within 10 days
FULL WATER ANALYSIS, IN PPM. NH4 AMMONIA, NO2 NITRITE, NO3 NITRATE, PO4 PHOSPHATE
Baseline, July 2024: NH4 0.5, NO2 0.25, NO3 20, PO4 0.5
End Result, 8/3/2024: NH4 0, NO2 0, NO3 10, PO4 0
City Park Golf Course, the flagship course of the City and County of Denver municipal courses, draws more than hundreds of thousands of gallons a night from a roughly twelve foot irrigation pond replenished daily by a wastewater treatment facility. The pond had been managed with copper and a diatom fertilizer, and the City's Director of Agronomy and Head Superintendent sought to try Hydralife's natural approach even though it was a late season treatment. Beginning in July 2024, Hydralife removed 100 to 150 pounds of nuisance seaweed and applied about 100 gallons of concentrated phytoplankton alongside aeration. Within 10 days, ammonia and phosphate had both fallen to zero, holding that condition even as the effluent inflow kept carrying ammonia at 0.5 to 1.0 ppm on a 3/4 acre pond. The results were impressive but the season quickly changed and grew cold, which shortened the treatment period.
PRIVATE LAKE. DENVER, COLORADO. 2026 SEASON
Denver Lake: a private body of water
FULL WATER ANALYSIS, IN PPM. NH4 AMMONIA, NO2 NITRITE, NO3 NITRATE, PO4 PHOSPHATE
Baseline, 7/06/2026: NH4 0.5, NO2 0, NO3 5, PO4 0.25
Water analysis, 8/7/2026: NH4 0, NO2 0, NO3 5, PO4 0
At this Denver Lake, treatment began in July 2026 on warm, murky, high nutrient water. In the opening weeks, after more than 200 gallons of concentrate (buckets of concentrated phytoplankton each administered a week apart), ammonia was roughly halved and nitrate fell from 5 ppm to zero. Nutrient levels continued to decrease and hold. A water analysis on Friday 8/7/2026 showed nutrient levels continue to hold at zero for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and phosphate.
PRIVATE SPRING FED POND. OHIO. 2025 AND 2026 SEASONS
A private pond in Ohio: held at zero for multiple years both in 2025 and 2026
FULL WATER ANALYSIS, IN PPM. NH4 AMMONIA, NO2 NITRITE, NO3 NITRATE, PO4 PHOSPHATE
Baseline, 4/17/2025: NH4 0.5, NO2 0, NO3 0, PO4 0.25
Follow up, 6/30/2025: NH4 0, NO2 0, NO3 0, PO4 between 0 and .25
Baseline, 4/3/2026: NH4 0.5, NO2 0, NO3 0, PO4 0.5
Follow up, 7/20/2026: NH4 0, NO2 0, NO3 0, PO4 0
A pond that was newly constructed in 2025 in Ohio was one of Hydralife's first out of state projects. This pond was particularly important to the owner as it was a significant investment to be used to train purebred dogs. The owner wanted to ensure her dogs had safe waters to train in and enjoy, yet she did not want to use chemical treatments and sought a natural approach.
After inoculation by Hydralife in early spring of 2025 the pond held at zero ammonia, nitrate and low phosphate levels even as a spring fed measurable ammonia at .25 ppm into it.
In 2026, the results from 2025 were duplicated. A single 25 gallon spring inoculation held the pond at zero ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and phosphate for more than three months while the owner traveled. The phosphate was fully consumed even though it read at 0.5 ppm after winter passed. The owner reported a pond full of life.
"There is no yucky algae on the surface at all. And there is so much life in the pond. Bugs, frogs, tadpoles, and a turtle."
Pond owner, Ohio, 2025
"My Ohio pond looked great!"
Pond owner, Ohio, 2026
GOLF COURSE IRRIGATION POND. FORT COLLINS, COLORADO. 2026 SEASON
Fort Collins SouthRidge Golf Course: Phosphate barely detectable in 14 days
FULL WATER ANALYSIS, IN PPM. NH4 AMMONIA, NO2 NITRITE, NO3 NITRATE, PO4 PHOSPHATE
Baseline, 5/22/2026: NH4 0.25, NO2 0, NO3 0, PO4 0.25
Follow up, 6/5/2026: NH4 less than 0.25, NO2 0, NO3 less than 5, PO4 barely detectable, almost 0
SouthRidge Golf Course is one of three municipal golf courses operated by the City of Fort Collins. The City's Golf Division is managed by Scott Phelps, CGCS (Certified Golf Course Superintendent), Senior Manager of Parks, Golf Division.
Phelps is also dedicated to the City's Urban Lakes Water Quality Team. The team brings Fort Collins Utilities, Parks and Natural Areas together to better manage the water quality of Fort Collins's lakes and ponds, Fort Collins has some of the best water in the state of Colorado due to the city's dedication to water quality and the work of the Urban Lakes Water Quality Team.
On Friday 5/22/2026, a baseline test of the pond at Hole 11 led to a 30 gallon inoculation of concentrated phytoplankton while the water was only 55 degrees Fahrenheit. A follow up sample collected 14 days later, on Friday 6/5/2026, showed improvement: phosphate was consumed from 0.25 ppm to a barely detectable level and ammonia fell below 0.25 ppm.
What the field record shows
The Hydralife method has consistently driven ammonia and phosphate down on ponds even when they are fed by wastewater. It has lifted a municipal cyanobacteria advisory on a public children's pond and kept it flourishing throughout the entire grow season. Hydralife held a private pond at zero nutrients in consecutive years with no toxic algae, filamentous algae or nuisance algae outbreak. The clients are named and institutional: a platinum rated country club, the City and County of Denver, Denver Parks and Recreation, the City of Fort Collins and private land owners. The results are measured against baselines, tracked across a full season, and in Ravenna's case confirmed by multiple independent laboratories. Across every water body nutrients are significantly reduced and held at low levels. Ammonia, nitrate and phosphate drastically decrease, nuisance and harmful algae are suppressed, and water quality and lake productivity improve.
A note on method
Hydralife manages water biologically. Chemical controls work by killing algae, which returns the dead cells and their nutrient load to the water to feed the next bloom. Beneficial phytoplankton works the opposite way, by providing competition to nuisance algae growth for the nutrients they need to thrive. It is a different category of solution, engineered for the high nutrient waters where chemical programs tend to struggle. Field readings vary with weather and irrigation, so the trend across a season, not any single reading, is the measure of the work. The work goes beyond hindering toxic, nuisance and filamentous algae. Based on the importance of phytoplankton as a microalgae, it plays a significant role in creating a healthy aquatic food web while improving water quality and dissolved oxygen through the consumption of carbon dioxide.
Frequently asked questions
Does beneficial phytoplankton work on real ponds and lakes?
Yes. In Hydralife's field record, live beneficial phytoplankton has driven ammonia and phosphate down on ponds even when they are fed by wastewater, a municipal cyanobacteria advisory was lifted on a public children's pond, and a private pond was held at zero nutrients in consecutive years. The results are measured against baselines and, in Ravenna's case, independently confirmed.
How long does it take to reduce nutrients in a pond?
It depends on nutrient load, water temperature, and how often the pond turns over. At City Park Golf Course, ammonia and phosphate fell to zero within 10 days. At SouthRidge Hole 11 in Fort Collins, phosphate fell to a barely detectable level in 14 days. At Ravenna Country Club, ammonia fell from 1.0 ppm to under 0.25 ppm in just a couple of weeks.
Which ponds are good candidates for beneficial phytoplankton?
The approach is built for nutrient rich water or for lakes that could use a boost of good phytoplankton. Ponds fed by wastewater effluent are where it has been tested hardest, because the excess nutrients become the food source.
Why does the water look green after treatment?
Green water is the intended outcome. A living green tint means the beneficial phytoplankton is established and holding nutrients inside cells, where nuisance algae and cyanobacteria cannot reach them. A daphnia bloom often follows, which is the food chain feeding on that phytoplankton.
Which nutrients does Hydralife report?
All four on every water body: ammonia (NH4), nitrite (NO2), nitrate (NO3), and phosphate (PO4), in parts per million, at baseline and at follow up. The complete readings for each water body are in the table at the top of this page and on each record.
Have these results been independently verified?
At Ravenna Country Club, yes. In July 2026, Brookside Laboratories independently confirmed the ammonia, nitrate, and phosphate results, and in August 2026 a student of Metro State University confirmed low nutrients from her own sample. The other records are Hydralife field readings, alongside what the superintendent, lake manager, or owner observed.
Is the water still usable for irrigation during treatment?
Yes. This is a biological approach, not a chemical one, so the water stays usable for irrigation throughout. Every golf course on this page kept irrigating, and phytoplankton is an excellent soil biostimulant and biome enhancer for the turf it reaches.
Does it work outside Colorado?
Yes. The private pond in Ohio was one of Hydralife's first out of state projects, and its 2025 results were duplicated in 2026. Hydralife serves all 48 continental United States and delivers on the day you choose.
Add your water body to the record
We are expanding this field program and documenting more water bodies across more regions, and we are looking for ponds, lakes, and irrigation sources to add to the record, on public lands, private lands, agricultural lands and golf courses. If you manage a high nutrient pond, a farm or golf course irrigation source, an HOA lake, or a municipal water body with a history of nuisance or harmful algae, we would like to test and document results on your water. The larger the sample, the stronger the proof, for your site and for the field. To discuss your water body or join the program, contact Hydralife Solutions.