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Early season concerns for lake water quality
Michael D. Isenberg
Mike Isenberg of Fountain Hills submitted this photograph he took in late April on a ‘flightseeing trip’ over Fountain Hills and, of course, Fountain Park. It would appear when this shot was taken that the lake water appeared to be more green in color than the park grass (although in fairness the grass has been in transition from winter rye to summer Bermuda).
Posted
Some residents have already noticed the deep green shade of the water in Fountain Lake, a sign that excessive algae has started growing.
The temperature in Fountain Hills has not even reached 100 degrees yet.
Normally the growth of algae is a hot weather phenomenon in mid to late summer when the humidity begins to rise.
The seemingly early onset for algae may only mean the water near the surface is warmer than it usually is this time of year.
The town has for some time had on its agenda a program to improve the quality of Fountain Lake.
The nitrate-rich lake water is a prime growing condition for algae, and while the town had discussions with the Sanitary District about partnering on an inter- governmental agreement to improve the water quality, the Sanitary District backed out of any potential partnership more than a year ago.
Sanitary District Manager Ron Huber says that while Fountain Lake may be rich in nitrates creating a great algae growing environment, it is not because of the treated waste water going into the lake.
Huber told The Times that the district’s advanced wastewater treatment facility has a maximum limit of 10 milligrams of nitrogen per liter of water.
“We have an alarm that tells us when we reach eight (milligrams per liter),” Huber said. “We average four to six (milligrams).”
Huber said the nitrates that get into the lake water are coming from two primary sources, fertilizer in irrigation runoff and waterfowl.
Cost is a significant hurdle to improving the water quality, particularly in what is essentially a closed body of water with little circulation.
There are aerators in the lake and the Fountain itself has some impact on circulating the water – during summer months Fountain run times have been expanded to include overnight hours.
The town has a plan to install new aerators in the lake to enhance the water circulation to help improve water quality.
Community Services Director Mark Mayer said final design for a new circulation system will be completed after the current construction work is completed in Fountain Park.
Mayer said the water quality consultant that works with the town has recommended aerators and horizontal water circulators to improve the water quality.
“We have finished the design work for the aerators as far as the specifications required,” Mayer said. “There is still design work to be completed for the installation.”
Once that design is finished the project can be offered to bid to contractors for installation.
The town has included $200,000 in the budget for the 2015/16 fiscal year for the project. The money would come from the Capital Improvement Fund.
The project is part of a comprehensive water quality management program developed by the town. The budget details cite “episodes of low oxygen levels, occasional algae blooms, unpleasant odors and fish die off as justification for the effort.”
“Fountain Lake serves as a centerpiece for town activities,” the budget sheet states.
It is unclear how far the estimated $200,000 project cost will go toward improving water quality.
