Recreational Lakes and Ponds
A Long-Term Approach to Recreational Water Management
For councils and water managers, preventing cyanobacterial blooms can be about much more than improving the appearance of a lake.
Maintaining water quality means helping to keep an important community asset open, accessible and available for recreation. Also ensuring the health of the community and its environment is a priority.
This installation below, demostrates how ultrasonic algae control can form part of a long-term management strategy for recreational lakes where recurring cyanobacteria and algae blooms can otherwise lead to health warnings, restrictions and closures.
Keeping a Popular Recreational Lake Open for Fishing & Water Activities
Location: Kennington Reservoir, Bendigo, Victoria
Application: Recreational lake – cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) control
System: Twin EnviroSonic ES300 solar-powered system
Installed: 2018
Status: Original system remains in operation
The Challenge
Kennington Reservoir is a popular recreational lake located within Bendigo, Victoria. Surrounded by residential areas and community amenities, the lake is regularly used for fishing, kayaking, boating and other recreational activities and is stocked with fish to support recreational fishing.
Recurring cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) blooms had become an ongoing management issue, periodically requiring the lake to be closed to recreational users.
These closures not only affected water quality but also restricted community access to an important recreational asset.
The EnviroSonic Solution
In 2018, a solar-powered EnviroSonic pontoon with two ES300 units was installed to provide ultrasonic algae control across the lake.
EnviroSonic uses ultrasound waves and controlled cavitation in the water column to target buoyant cyanobacteria. The ultrasound disrupts the gas vesicles of non motile algae, reducing their ability to rise to the surface and form concentrated blooms.
The system provides a preventative, chemical-free approach to algae management, rather than relying on reactive treatments once a bloom has developed.
The Result
Since EnviroSonic was installed, cyanobacterial blooms have been successfully controlled and no further algae-related recreational closures have been reported.
This has been a long-term result rather than a short-term treatment response. The original EnviroSonic units installed in 2018 remain in operation today.
Key Outcomes
No algae-related lake closures reported since installation
Continuous algae management since 2018
Recreational access maintained for fishing, kayaking and boating
Chemical-free
Solar-powered operation suitable for an on-water installation
Original EnviroSonic units remain operational
Low ongoing maintenance requirements
Maintenance
Regular maintenance to ensure longevity of the Envirosonic pontoon and solar panels.
