MegaFlow installations for water quality improvement in the municipalities of Heerlen (NL) and Geraardsbergen (Belgium).
That water quality in public waters is not improving is by now common knowledge. There are many reasons that lead to annually recurring problems of complaints about public waters in cities, parks, canals and recreational (swimming) waters. Climate change is a heavy contributor to declining water quality. Prolonged heat waves, heavy downpours create the misery. Fortunately, there are solutions to that, which you can read about here.
Aeration and movement is crucial for good water quality
AUGA has specialized in water technology for over 35 years, 10 years ago our program was expanded to include aerators and mixers from Acqua&co|Water treatment technologies from Italy. This manufacturer specializes in water treatment and restoration of water quality for civil and industrial water projects and supplies its installations worldwide.
AUGA has now had the privilege of executing hundreds of projects using Acqua&Co’s systems, making our own system modifications tailored to the client’s needs and the project. We accompany each project from request to delivery.
Municipalities more alert to annual water problems in public waters.
Municipalities are increasingly among our clients as they face increasing quality problems in public waters within their municipal boundaries every year.
Massive fish kills due to warming, stagnant water, smelly water, swimming bans due to blue-green algae infestation in natural waters, it’s best to avoid it. They found their way to AUGA to get rid of their problems.
Recently, we have been able to receive orders from the province of East Flanders in Belgium and the municipality of Heerlen in the Netherlands.
Heerlen city pond project
Heerlen has been an AUGA customer for many years. The municipality has quite a few urban ponds with a high recreational share under its management. A number of ponds have been equipped with aerators, mixers and a beautiful fountain at Kasteel Hoensbroek years ago and are running to the full satisfaction of the municipality. Watch the video of the installed installations here, or read our blog we wrote for this.
The new project in Heerlen revolves around the large LTM pond. When the summer heat strikes again, an acute lack of oxygen occurs here, resulting in high fish mortality. As an emergency solution, pumps powered by tractors were used each time, as a fixed power supply was not available at this location.
LTM pond in Heerlen
Not the most ideal way to keep the water quality in order and also a time-consuming and costly emergency solution. Meanwhile, a fixed power supply has been realized and AUGA delivered 3 floating MegaFlow-Combi systems for this project. Each combi system is equipped with a MegaFlow mixer and an AirFlow aerator, whose flow direction is adjustable to match the water depth. Movement and aeration of water are combined in 1 floating unit for optimal results. With a total motor power of only 2.6 kW per system, this large pond is revitalized and best done before the summer season arrives. So Heerlen is nicely on time with the purchase of these floating units.
MegaFlow Combi system, the aerator is facing upward in this situation.
Provincial Domain the Gavers near Geraardsbergen Belgium
At the vast recreational area Domain the Gavers, every day is a vacation. There is no shortage of recreational opportunities. On the sandy beach by the huge pond it is great to relax on summer days. Even camping or renting a bungalow are among the possibilities in the recreation area.
The lake was created from sand mining in the 1970s. Starting in the late 1970s, the lake was given a recreational purpose. A swimming zone was established near the sandy beach. In hot, summer days, blue-green algae development occurred, an undesirable situation that must be combated in such recreational lakes.
Blue-green algae development
Blue-green algae develop mainly at higher temperatures and in stagnant water that contains too many nutrients. If there is little or no current in the water, there is a chance in warm weather that cyanobacteria or blue-green algae will begin to bloom.
During a blue-green algae bloom, the many blue-green algae on the surface of the water may congregate and form a floating layer. Many types of blue-green algae make toxins; contact with blue-green algae can cause health problems.
Domain de Gavers near Geraardsbergen in Belgium with swimming area and sandy beach on the right
The province of East Flanders engaged AUGA to address the blue-green algae problem in the swimming zone. On this project, 2 volume aerators S-Flow were delivered at an earlier stage.
S-Flow Volume Aerators pump a tremendous amount of water into the air, to which ammonia and Co2 are released from the water, then return oxygen to the water. The surface aerator creates a well-mixed and aerated area around the unit resulting in a better water environment without stratification. You can see the operation of an S-Flow volume aerator here .
However, sufficient flow in the water is also very important for controlling blue-green algae, which is necessary to mix the warm water layers with the colder layers and stimulate the breakdown of dirt accumulations on the bottom.
Since volume mixers are already present on this project, expansion with 2 MegaFlow volume mixers suffices. With a motor power of 1.5 kW, 3,000 m3 of water per mixer is steadily set in motion by the large propeller blades, which turn only 112 rpm.
Preparing in time before summer season starts
Both municipalities have prepared well for the summer season and started purchasing these plants in time to be put into operation before the warmer summer weather hits again. Unfortunately, it is still common to take action when a problem is already manifesting itself. In fact, that is too late in the season to achieve maximum efficiency and systems must remain in constant operation. Starting earlier results in faster results with fewer operating hours for the installed units. So be there on time!
For more information, email: projecten@auga.nl or respond via our contact form.