Achieve Beautiful Water with Aeration

Floating fountains are the most recognizable aeration solution. It’s not uncommon to see them gracing ponds in business parks, private properties, and everywhere in between. First and foremost, these systems enhance waterbodies with dynamic beauty and movement. Available with a wide array of sizes, heights, lighting features, and spray patterns, fountains can be used to accentuate the natural aesthetics of a property or create a stunning focal point that impresses residents and visitors.

Property owners and managers work hard to take care of their waterbodies and fountains help draw attention to these efforts. But perhaps more importantly, fountains help support healthy water quality conditions by increasing the transfer of oxygen to the water column. As water cascades across the surface, it creates beneficial turbulence and circulation. Waterbodies with abundant DO can more efficiently break down nutrient-rich muck and organic materials that accumulate over time – nutrients that aquatic weeds and algae rely on for fuel. When water quality is more balanced, lakes and ponds are less susceptible to poor and unsightly conditions.

Fountains and submersed systems work very differently, but property owners and managers who want the best of both worlds may find luck with a surface aerator. Similar to fountains, surface aerators float on the water and are most effective in waterbodies less than 6 feet deep; however, they have a lower profile and create a boil-like flow rather that inject up to 3 pounds of oxygen per horsepower into the water every hour – significantly more than a traditional spray pattern. Like submersed aeration, surface aerators are designed for function, not form, but they can be paired with a variety of fountains to create a more striking look.

Fountains and aerators are beneficial, low-maintenance investments. Through an Annual Management Program, aquatic experts typically conduct monthly or bi-monthly inspections of equipment to ensure they are functioning properly and clear of debris. Every 2-3 years, experts also complete an oils and seals change to keep the system in optimal condition – much like changing the oil or breaks on your car. In regions of the country that experience long periods of freezing during the winter, professionals may advise physically removing equipment from the waterbody for off-site storage. However, in areas with less severe winters, fountains and aerators are useful tools to help prevent ice formation and maintain open water all season long.

Fountains and aerators are powerful tools in lake and pond management, but cannot be used alone. Beautiful waterbodies are no accident – they are cultivated using an array of sustainable solutions to prevent deterioration over time. These solutions include the use of nutrient-mitigating technologies like Phoslock, Alum, and EutroSORB, beneficial biological bacteria, ongoing water quality testing, shoreline buffers and restoration techniques, mechanical hydro-raking to physically remove bottom build-up, and when needed, highly-targeted herbicides and algaecides. To begin cultivating a waterbody you can take pride in, speak with an aquatic expert about the unparalleled benefits of fountains and aerators.