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Freshwater
The SolarBee is uniquely capable of :
- eliminating cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) blooms,
- oxygenating lake bottom waters and sediments to prevent release of hydrogen sulfide,
iron, manganese, and phosphorus,
- preventing seasonal fish kills,
- reducing nuisance aquatic weed growth without either toxic chemicals or fossil fuel
consumption.
In addition, the SolarBee is economical for virtually any size of lake or reservoir, requires no
infrastructure changes, and can be installed on a rental basis until satisfactory results are proven.
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SolarBee
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Applications
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Freshwater
Wastewater
Potable Water
Storm water
Industrial
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Although there is no "greener" technological approach
towards eliminating the symptoms of eutrophication in
water bodies, H2O Logics fully appreciates and
unequivocally supports all efforts to reduce the cause of
eutrophication, i.e., excessive phosphorus and nitrogen
inputs from surrounding watershed sources. Coordinated
and comprehensive watershed management plans are
essential for the long-term protection of both tributaries
and receiving waters. Until sufficient nutrient reduction is
achieved, however, the SolarBee represents the most
effective, sustainable, and environmentally-friendly
approach to mitigate the negative ecological
consequences of eutrophication in ponds, lakes, and
reservoirs.
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Models
Case Studies
Video
Science
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Perhaps the most visible indicator of lake eutrophication and impairment are blue-green algae
(cyanobacteria) blooms during summer months. These blooms are typically a result of high
nutrient inputs (i.e., soluble inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus) and warm, stagnant waters.
Because blue-green algae are not readily consumed by zooplankton due to their intra-cellular
cyanotoxins and relatively large size, blooms settle to the lake bottom uneaten upon death. This
high organic loading to the lake sediments, and associated microbial decomposition, strips
bottom waters (i.e, hypolimnion) of dissolved oxygen. Anoxic bottom waters are not only
detrimental to fish, but these conditions allow soluble phosphorus to be released from the
sediments and again become available for algal uptake.
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Traditional approaches for managing eutrophic lakes
focus primarily on the ecological consequences of
blue-green algae blooms, rather than directly
preventing the blooms in the first place. For example,
hypolimnetic oxygenation through supplemental
aeration or hypolimnetic withdrawal can improve fish
habitats and inhibit soluble phosphorus release from
the sediments, but the underlying problem of
blue-green algae blooms will persist. The same is
true for alum applications designed to keep soluble
phosphorus chemically fixed in the sediments.
However, summer blooms are typically fueled by
nutrients brought in from summer stormwater runoff
and tributary inputs - the soluble
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phosphorus released from anoxic sediments is usually unavailable for algal growth until after fall
turnover. Hypolimnetic aeration and alum blankets are not effective at preventing blue-green algae
blooms - these approaches deal only with the consequence of the blooms.
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Metaphorically, traditional lake management approaches can be thought of as a pond or lake
doctor. The doctor approach often uses chemicals and invasive techniques to quickly treat the
symptoms of a problem rather than the problem itself. For example, hypolimnetic aeration and
alum additions are used to treat the symptoms of oxygen depletion caused by the death and
settling of blue-green algae blooms. As long as the blooms continue each year, hypolimnetic
oxygen depletion will also occur. In contrast, the SolarBee approach is more like a lake therapist.
SolarBee circulation has proven consistently effective in over 50 lakes at sufficiently disrupting
bloom-forming blue-green algae's habitat so that blooms do not form. Nutrients that would have
otherwise gone into blue-greens now go into edible "good" algae (e.g., diatoms, greens, etc.),
that do get consumed - the result: lower algal biomass, greater secondary production (i.e.,
zooplankton and fish), lower pH, improved water clarity, and reduced organic loading to bottom
waters. The SolarBee "therapist" approach addresses the whole lake by eliminating the principal
cause of the problem - blue-green algae blooms - while also eliminating the need for
symptomatic treatments such as alum or hypolimnetic aeration (and if needed, SolarBee intake
tubes can be set off the bottom to circulate naturally oxygenated surface waters down to the
hypolimnion). Quality water, naturally - that's the SolarBee approach to ecologically sustainable
lake management.
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