as seen in Golf Course News - November 1998
by JEFF ALDERMAN
One of the elements that ensured clear water for Costa Mesa Country Club
OSTA MESA, Calif.- Costa Mesa Country Club in Orange County is enjoying clear lakes thanks to a combination of innovative technologies.
Previously, Costa Mesa's lakes and ponds were filled with algae, lacked clarity, emitted foul odors, and were stagnant. They are now clear, sparkling bodies of water, where golf balls are seen by moonlight at water depths exceeding 10 feet. Algae has greatly diminished, with no chemical treatment.
The systems complement the natural aquatic ecosystem, supporting healthy, growing populations of fish and hundreds of ducks and coots.
The design augments and operates in conjunction with, the lake's natural ecological systems using durable, low energy-consumptive systems to attain and maintain water quality and clarity. Maintenance is much easier and less frequent with lower maintenance costs.
The main components and systems of this design include the following:
- Gravel Bed Biological Filter System: This consists of a large gravel bed with a pump / mechanical system. properly sized and designed, the gravel bed operates as a natural filter, where nutrients and organic matter are digested by bacteria colonies as the water gently passes through. It also mechanically filters out particulate matter and turbidity, and has a natural appearance. The vertical turbine pumps are very efficient, and there are no expensive underground vaults.
- Aeration System: This consists of an air compressor which provides cool air flow, and continuous distribution tubing installed throughout the lake bottoms. This continually adds oxygen to the water, oxidizing much of the organic matter and nutrients in the lakes. Properly designed and installed systems also thoroughly mix ("turn over") the lake water column. A uniform aerobic condition permits aquatic life to thrive throughout the lake, eliminating "fish kills" which normally occur at night, or during climatic changes.
- Ozone System: Operating in conjunction with the aeration system, this provides a greater degree of treatment of the lake water, giving it greater clarity. Ozone also prevents the build-up of calcium, other minerals, and matter which may tend to clog the slits of the aeration tubing, thus extending the life of the tubing and decreasing maintenance. An adequate ozone system breaks down much of the organic matter and nutrients which feed algae and "cloud" the water. Ozone also directly kills and destroys algae to some extent. The newer ozone generators are safer and more powerful, efficient, and cost-effective than those of the past.
Other, less vital, components which typically are included are:
- Skimmer box intakes to continually remove unsightly debris on the water surface, eliminate stagnation "dead spots," and provide better lake-water circulation. Straining the water through the baskets of skimmers removes larger debris and particles.
- Lake-edge discharge "jets" to better circulate the lake water, and to eliminate "dead spots."
- Waterfalls and fountain jets to give dramatic, aesthetic effects to water bodies. They also add some water circulation, and a small amount of aeration. However, the aeration benefit is very small, and is no substitute for the primary aeration systems.
Without proper treatment, the water quality and clarity of golf course lakes and water hazards is generally very poor, with a large amount of turbidity, organic matter, nutrients and algae. By contrast, successfully designed projects range from lakes and reservoirs of several acres in size, to small ponds and fountains - from newly constructed water bodies, to renovations of existing lakes. This includes the transformation of lakes which previously had appeared to have been beyond hope, as well as those which are fed by treated effluent.
Jeff Alderman is owner of Alderman Engineering, an engineering and consulting firm; telephone 877-347-0790; email: jra@aldermanengineering.com
http://www.aldermanengineering.com
