Higgins Environmental Associates, Inc. and the A-Pod Technology
Sustainably and permanently removing harmful algae, cyanobacteria, and excess nutrients from fresh and estuarine water bodies.
About Higgins Environmental
National Science Foundation Award Winner
Honored for support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Award for our A-Pod Technology (U.S. Patent No. 10,745,879) to sustainably and permanently remove nuisance and harmful algae, cyanobacteria, excess nutrients and cyanotoxins from fresh and estuarine water bodies.
A Diligent and Innovative Small Firm
Most all of our business is repeat and referral-based from existing clients and their associates. We have been helping clients solve environmental challenges for 27 years now.
News and Testimonials
Find out what others have to say about our service in our Downloads Section below.
View Downloads →…as a daily swimmer I wanted to share what I have seen this summer in regards to water quality. With the heat and heavy rain this summer we were primed for algae outbreaks much like previous seasons. The water this summer has been crystal clear everywhere on the pond with nothing coming from the bottom to the surface. It is the first time swimming here in almost 20 years that I have seen this kind of clarity this late in the season. The A-Pods are truly amazing and a game changer for clean water!
— Concord resident and frequent pond user, July 26, 2023 · White Pond, Concord, MA
Water clarity sample — White Pond, Concord, MA
Services and Products
A-Pod Technology
Permanent and sustainable removal of benthic and pelagic forms of cyanoHABs, nuisance algae, cyanotoxins and excess nutrients from water bodies. A-Pods are fully scalable, readily portable and can be used either actively or passively (using natural water currents; without electricity or chemicals). A-Pods work well in both small and very large water bodies (fresh and estuarine).
320-acre water body with HABs depicted in red
Surface Water Quality Improvement Services
We can rapidly assess, mitigate, improve water quality and reduce health risks posed by toxic benthic and pelagic forms of cyanobacteria (a.k.a. cyanoHABs; harmful algae blooms) and nuisance densities of algae in water bodies.
A-Pod collector in passive mode
Oil and Hazardous Materials
LSP and Environmental Consulting Services including: Assessments, Senior Review, Remediation Design and Oversight. Other services and products available for assessing and improving the health and quality of soil and sediment.
Environmental site assessment
Downloads & Reports
Technical reports, proof-of-concept studies, and research publications on A-Pod Technology and water quality improvement.
2025 EcoRestoration White Pond Summary
2024 Nutrient Source Evaluation Stiles Pond
2023 Passive Harvesting of CyanoHABs and Tree Pollen Report
2023 Passive Harvesting of CyanoHABs and Tree Pollen — Slides (narrated version available — call us)
2021–2022 Passive Harvesting of CyanoHABs Using the A-Pod Technology
Passive Harvesting of CyanoHABs — Slides (narrated version available — give us a call)
2023 Massachusetts Healthy Soil Action Plan — Sidebar (uncut version) by Jonathan Higgins
Heterogeneity of Phosphorus in Sediment — Paper with GIS Spatial Figures
Lake Iron Nodules as Indicators of Surface Water and Sediment Quality Over Time (narrated available)
2023 REBA Boston PFAS Presentation
A-Pod White Pond Aug 7, 2023 News
Could Pollen Collection Be More Important to White Pond's Health Than Sewerage?
Upper Green Pond, Newbury, Mass. — A-Pod Proof of Concept Report
Contact Us
Please send us an email with your contact information and message. We enjoy helping people solve both routine and complex environmental problems.