Stormwater retention ponds are increasingly found in urban areas for irrigation water containment, flood control, recreation, and overall watershed management.  Relatively small, typically under about 25 acres (10 hectares), these basins capture and store runoff water drained from city streets and development complexes.  These waters often contain high concentrations of algal nutrients, organic matter, inorganic turbidity, and anything/everything else that washes in. 

SolarBees provide epilimnetic circulation in stormwater ponds primarily to control blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms caused by high nutrient loading.  The morphology and toxic nature of many blue-green algal species make them inedible for zooplankton and fish, causing poor water clarity and unsightly and odorous pond scum.  Eliminating harmful blue-green algae blooms allows edible, beneficial algae to grow; the grazing of these edible algae increases water clarity while improving aquatic food web dynamics.  At the same time, there is better distribution of dissolved oxygen through the water column, and noticeable fish habitat improvements with a reduced risk of seasonal fish kills.

Furthermore, there are a number of additional benefits by applying epilimnetic circulation to stormwater ponds.  For example, mosquito growth is inhibited due to reduced surface tension making it difficult for mosquito larvae to survive.  The growth and survival of several types of invasive aquatic weeds are negatively impacted by sediment oxidation promoted by the return flow back to the SolarBee.  This same sediment oxidation also promotes near-shore sediment compaction, as well as reductions in filamentous algae growth.  And finally, maintaining a healthier lake ecosystem through enhanced circulation powered only by the sun can provide significant and sustainable economic benefits by minimizing toxic chemical usage while maximizing energy savings.

Visit our Lakes Applications site for additional supporting information.