Objective
According to the source article, the objective was to increase dissolved oxygen concentrations in several stagnant coves of an 88-surface-acre coastal lagoon community. The coves ranged in depth from 22 ft to 40 ft and had existing CleanFlow and Airmax diffused aeration systems that were defunct due to lack of maintenance and obsolete due to their age.
LakeTech set out to make bathymetric maps and collect the water quality data needed to design a new, highly efficient diffused aeration system.
Solution
To address low dissolved oxygen in the stagnant coves, the source article states that LakeTech installed a high-efficiency diffused aeration system designed to induce vertical mixing and promote gas exchange at the surface.
The article notes that while some gas dissolves into the water during this process, a majority of the benefit from these systems comes from moving large volumes of water with gas bubbles rather than from dissolving the gas itself. LakeTech recommended Kasco's newly released Large Aire-Guard Cabinet technology paired with dual-loop diffusers.
System design with BioBase Maps
The source article describes LakeTech's proprietary platform integration with BioBase Maps, described as the only commercial cloud platform focused on automating bathymetric map processing from off-the-shelf sonar.
Using a conventional Lowrance chart plotter to collect data and Lowrance Genesis Live to visualize bathymetry in real time, staff could visualize project needs with specificity. Within a few hours of getting off the water, the team could begin designing a customized aeration system tailored to the lagoon contours.
System monitoring
Using LakeTech's lake management and monitoring platform, the source article states the team generated depth profile graphs and overlaid real-time water quality data to track dissolved oxygen, temperature, and other parameters over several weeks.
Within only a few days of installing the first Kasco system, the article reports that the thermocline was already disrupted and dissolved oxygen concentrations in the deepest sections of the project were elevated to above 5 mg/L.
Benefits reported for the lagoon community
The source article states that increasing dissolved oxygen improved clarity and overall water health and quality. Mapping and real-time data collection supported proper design of a customized aeration system and also served as a deliverable for the client.
After only 10 days, the article reports dissolved oxygen saturation in the deepest sections of the lagoon stayed consistently above 85%, up from as low as 8% in one of the coves. The partnership named in the source title includes Kasco Marine and BioBase.