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Case Studies and
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Case Study for Customer Location CA70:
Reservoir or Lake Use:
The lake is a raw water reservoir that supplies the adjacent
water treatment plant. The lake also supports boating, fishing,
hunting, and the landing of airplanes, but is designated as a
‘no body contact’ water body.
System Overview and Reservoir:
Surface area is 234 acres, maximum depth is 25 ft, average depth
is about 18 ft, volume is 4200 acre-feet. The lake regularly
experiences high winds; twice in 2003 the winds speed was in the
100 miles per hour range.
Reported Problem Before SolarBee Installation:
The lake is supplied by high-nutrient aqueduct water and has a
history of intense algae blooms. In 2002 the city applied 2,000
lbs of copper sulfate per week for 20 weeks from April through
September. Blue-green algae predominated, causing taste and odor
problems. Because of water quality problems the city drew only
25% of its 30 MGD needs from the lake in 2002.
SolarBee Installation:
Date: November 2002. Installed six (6) solar-powered SB10000s,
with intake hoses set at an average depth of 20 feet. In June
2003 a seventh machine was installed. All machines had high-wavehandling
36-inch intake hoses, and buoy marker lights for safety due to
boat and airplane traffic.
Results:
In the summer of 2002, Secchi depths averaged 3 ft with a
maximum of 4 ft, while chlorophyll a concentrations averaged
13.5 ug/L (even with all the copper sulfate added), and
zooplankton where virtually absent. In the summer of 2003, green
algae predominated with little or no blue-green algae,
zooplankton populations took off, Secchi depths averaged 6 ft
with a maximum of 14 ft, chlorophyll a averaged 6.6 ug/L,
dissolved oxygen levels were consistent down to the intake hose
depths, and fish vigor and spawning has been unprecedented.
Based on trophic state indices, Lake Palmdale went from
eutrophic to mesotrophic without any changes in nutrient inputs.
The savings in copper sulfate in 2003 compared to 2002 was
$65,000. In 2003 the city could draw 60% of its water needs from
the lake, which took some pressure off the city well fields. The
water treatment plant operated more evenly regarding daily
treatment regiment due to consistently high water quality. Twice
the SolarBees survived 100 mph winds and high waves with little
or no damage. All units have been upgraded to the newer
SB10000v12 model.
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