Deep Creek Dam SolarBee Solution

EPCO Australia recently installed five SolarBee water circulators in the Deep Creek Dam which provides drinking water for the Eurobodalla Shire.

Water is transferred from the Moruya River during times of high river flow, to Deep Creek Dam for storage.  This allows the Eurobodalla Shire Council to harvest large volumes of water for public water supply that would otherwise flow out to sea.

The SolarBees were installed to improve dissolved oxygen and pH levels in the dam and to prevent stratification. The SolarBee solar powered water circulator utilises patented near laminar flow technology that provides high-flow, long distance circulation in water reservoirs. The SolarBee solves water quality problems while providing significant energy savings and reducing the need for toxic chemicals. The aerators previously used in the dam were costing an estimated $80000 per year in electricity - with the SolarBee installed those costs are saved as it utilises solar power and requires minimal maintenance and no infrastructure changes.

Other benefits of the SolarBee:

• Prevent and control harmful blue-green algae blooms
• Reduce taste and odour problems in drinking water
• Reduce public health issues due to cyanotoxins
• Improve aesthetics, water clarity and biodiversity
• Improve dissolved oxygen (DO) and pH levels
• Prevent accumulation of Mn, Fe, H2S and methyl mercury from bottom waters
• Reduce invasive aquatic weed growth
• Improve fish habitats and prevent fish kills.
• Economical for lakes and reservoirs of any size, whole of partial lake treatment
• Near laminar flow impacts up to 35 surface acres (14 hectares) per unit
• Can be deployed to treat the epilimnion and/or hypolimnion
• Day and night operation using solar energy