Case Study for Customer Location CA71:
Reservoir or Lake Use:
Brackish water recreational lake used for sailing, wind surfing, boating, and fishing.
System Overview and Reservoir:
Surface area is 46 acres; volume is 700 acre-feet; maximum depth is 20 ft, average depth is 15 ft. Salt content is about 20,000 mg/L, or 20 ppt (parts per thousand).
Reported Problem Before SolarBee Installation:
Problems included low dissolved oxygen (DO) levels, nuisance algae blooms, and poor water clarity. The initial objectives were to: 1) increase DO levels and prevent fish kills, 2) control nuisance algae blooms an associated unsightly mats and odors, 3) reduce fecal coliform counts by improved mixing and increasing water exposure to the sun’s UV light, and 4) reduce the need to pump high volumes of fresher water into the lake on a continual basis.
SolarBee Installation:
Date: January 2003, installed two (2) SB10000s with intake hoses set at 15 and 16 ft. A special coating was applied to address saltwater barnacle and mussel issues. Sacrificial anodes were installed to prevent corrosion. June 2005, original units replaced with the newer SB10000v12 model.
Results:
DO concentrations increased throughout the lake following the installation of the SolarBees. Owner reports fewer or no nuisance algal bloom events and associated floating algal scum, reduced need for pumping fresher water into the lake (thus saving energy), better fecal coliform counts, more stable pH values, lower chlorophyll a concentrations, and better water clarity. The improved water quality has also provided a perfect environment for mussels, barnacles and other indigenous biology. The special coating applied to the units did not experience severe bio-fouling until the intake hoses were set close to the bottom. SolarBee, Inc. continues to experiment with different anti-fouling coatings; but for now, periodic cleaning of mussel and barnacle growth is still needed. However, the owner believes that the recent resurgence in the lake of the native oyster (Ostrea conchaaphilia) is due to the SolarBees’ beneficial impacts on water quality. Residents are very positive about the units and observed ecological benefits, and feel the SolarBees are working well.
SolarBee 10000 unit in lake with homes in the background.
Updated: 04/25/2007
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