SolarBee long distance water circulators require no infrastructure, and in this project were installed in 2 days, and provide significant savings in capital and operational costs. Four of the machines have been installed to reduce and control harmful algae blooms (HABs) and configured to provide long-distance circulation of the epilimnion, or top layer of the lake. This is the habitat for harmful blue-green algae (cyanobacteria), which release Geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB) into the water and cause taste and odour complaints. Blue-green algae also release cyanotoxins which can cause public health concerns. Long-distance circulation serves to disrupt the environment of the blue-green algae, which thrives in warm, stagnant water. The fifth machines is installed near the treatment plant takeoff and configured for hypolimnetic oxidation. With the SolarBee intake set deep in the lower layers of the lake, it raises the anoxic water to the surface and circulates oxygen rich water back down to the hypolimium. Increasing dissolved oxygen concentrations in this way prevents dissolved Manganese and Iron from passing to treatment and causing taste complaints. In addition to preventing water stagnation and controlling blue-green algae blooms, the increased circulation improves the lake ecosystem and provides a healthy environment for fish and other aquatic organisms. SolarBee circulators come in various sizes. The largest has a 400m diameter area of influence for HAB control. Each machine runs 24 hours per day on a brushless, low-voltage motor and is entirely solar powered. The circulators have a life expectancy of 25+ years.

About SolarBee:

SolarBee is a world leader in improving water quality, and has pioneered radial long-distance circulation (LDC) technology. Today SolarBee is using LDC to solve water quality problems in fresh water lakes, wastewater lagoons, storm water ponds, potable water storage tanks and reservoirs. SolarBee LDC equipment uses solar instead of mains power, resulting in significant energy savings. Over 1,400 SolarBee LDC units have been installed around the world, and with over 250 lakes cleaned up in the freshwater market alone, SolarBee is truly "Circulating the World's Water".