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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: Jan. 13, 2003, installed two 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, 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. PSI is
experimenting with different antifouling 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 benefits, and feel
the SolarBees are working well.
 SolarBee 10000 unit in lake with
homes in the background
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