Alum Application Improves Water Quality in Spring Lake
Spring Lake in Spring Lake, MI, is a popular spot for fishing, boating, swimming, and other recreational activities. For nearly two decades, residents have enjoyed 1,091 acres of clear, healthy water, thanks to a 2005 alum application that helped maintain balanced nutrient levels. In recent years, however, algal blooms increased in frequency and intensity, indicating that the lake needed another application. While alum applications generally last 10–12 years, Spring Lake benefited for over 15 years.
Applying Alum to Restore Water Quality
On May 21, 2025, SOLitude completed an approximately month-long alum treatment. Our team worked seven days a week, from sunrise to sunset, applying alum to 1,568 acres of water. To ensure thorough coverage, we utilized two specialized, state-of-the-art barges: a 64-foot vessel for open-water areas and a 32-foot vessel for more compact sections of the lake.
Following the treatment, residents saw a noticeable improvement in water clarity, and these benefits will continue to improve over the next few months.
This alum treatment is just one part of a comprehensive 10-year lake management plan. In addition to reducing phosphorus already present in the water column, steps will be taken to limit phosphorus entering the lake from the surrounding watershed.
Partnering for a Healthy, Thriving Lake
SOLitude looks forward to continuing to work with Spring Lake to maintain healthy, clean water for residents to enjoy. We also want to give kudos to our team of alum experts who ensured applications were safe and effective.
Improve Water Quality with Alum Applications
SOLitude Lake Management is a nationwide environmental firm committed to providing sustainable solutions that improve water quality, enhance beauty and preserve natural resources.
SOLitude’s team of aquatic scientists specializes in the development and execution of customized lake, stormwater pond, wetland and fisheries management programs. Services include water quality testing and restoration, algae and aquatic weed control, installation and maintenance of fountains and aeration systems, shoreline erosion control, muck and sediment removal and invasive species management. SOLitude partners with homeowners associations, golf courses, private landowners, businesses and municipalities. SOLitude Lake Management is part of Rentokil, a leading business services company, operating across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
For more information, visit SOLitude Lake Management at solitudelakemanagement.com, and connect on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
