There are a couple of things we all know about water features: firstly they add beauty and bring a focal point to any venue, and secondly, as with anything in life, they require maintenance.
Here Robert Jackson, division manager for Otterbine distributor Reesink Hydro-Scapes, considers how water management is critical – and easy with Otterbine – for maintaining clean, healthy water as the weather warms up and to keep that beauty spot beautiful.
Water issues are caused by a lack of oxygen in the water and become more prevalent in warmer weather. By making sure the water is well aerated, you prevent stagnation, keep algae and aquatic weeds under control, eliminate odours, prolong the life of the pond, lake or reservoir and benefit the environment.
Healthy ponds and lakes have the proper balance of oxygen and nutrients to sustain plants, fish and other living organisms. There are three sources for oxygen in the water – as a by-product of photosynthesis, from currents or wind pushing oxygen through the surface and via an aerator.
Why choose water aeration?
Increase the overall oxygen supply in the water by adding dissolved oxygen and you reduce and eliminate the use of chemicals. Put simply, aeration is a better choice for the environment, providing another tick to the sustainability box of every venue.
Plus, adding diffused oxygen to the water column is a permanent solution – it increases water circulation, prevents stagnant-thermally stratified water and reduces muck; restoring a healthy, balanced ecosystem.
Why Otterbine?
With little to no maintenance required and a range of quality products which are built to last, Otterbine has some of the highest oxygen transfer and pumping rates in the industry with an average lifespan of 15 years. Its range of products are trusted by customers the world over and come with warranties from distributor Reesink Hydro-Scapes ranging from three to five years.
Types of aerators
There are two types of aerator: surface spray and diffused aerators. Surface spray aerators throw water droplets through the air, while diffused aerators work by compressing oxygen and pumping it into the water from the bottom.
System sizing and selection
There are four factors that determine the pond or site’s requirements: surface area, depth, quality of incoming water and available power. When it comes to the product, you’ll need to decide if surface or sub surface is best and when it comes to system sizing and placement the shape, size and depth are key in orer to deliver optimal aeration. For the best results you may have to consider breaking horsepower requirements into smaller units and spaces throughout the water feature.
Why act now?
It pays dividends to act now before the problems take hold as the weather warms up in spring. Once water has lost its ecological balance and goes into crisis, the costs of restoring it increase dramatically. As well as often being more expensive to implement, reactive solutions tend to be less friendly to the environment.
There are experts in water management at Reesink Hydro-Scapes, Otterbine’s UK distributor, who will be happy to help understand your water body’s oxygen needs.
