BIOBUG® FS Success Story: Organic Waste Reduction
There are 7 ponds / Lakes which cover a total of 20 acres. The source of the water is about 700 acres of watershed which is primarily estate style homes and wetlands. Our association is 147 home sites that are 90 developed and every year another 3-4 are completed by different builders.
We started using BIOBUG® FS last year in May 2007. We buy the material directly from Bio Systems.
Our lakes have been managed by the primary developer until 4 years ago when we assumed management of our association and the lake care. Previously we used an herbicide in May and algaecide treatments about every few weeks. The company applying the material was applying copper sulfate that was not effective and only partially killed the algae which decayed on the bottom causing a black organic waste on the lake bottom.
After some research we determined that we would use BIOBUG® FS to breakdown the black organic materials with some impact on the algae. Also we ran some test last summer with Sonic Solutions Ultrasonic Algae Control Units. Last year since we were already contracted with the herbicide and algaecide treatment company we continued that application for the summer of 2007 with little impact on the algae primarily because of high alkalinity in the water. (Cutrine Plus would have been a better choice for an algaecide for sure.)
We used only 3 sonic units last year in the test and found they were effective where they were installed. Along with the BIOBUG® FS enzymes. We had as much as 2 ½ feet of organic material in some places on the bottom and generally 6-18 inches.
The results at the end of last year were very encouraging and we continued with the BIOBUG® FS enzyme treatment and added 3 more Ultrasonic units. Our expectation on the Organic material as presented by Bio Systems is that it would take 3-5 years to breakdown the deeper accumulations. There was a lot of resistance to dredging the bottom of the lakes because of the costs probably close to $1M.
This spring we ran some bottom evaluations and have found that we have eliminated 6-12 inches of bottom organics. We still have a long way to go. Also now we are able to see stone on the bottom and the water is crystal clear that was never the case before. The crystal clear water is a result of the ultrasonic units because of the impact on the suspended green algae that was impacted in a few weeks when they were turned on.
The BIOBUG® FS was very effective on the duckweed which is not affected by the ultrasonic units. We have budgeted money for herbicide as a backup incase the aquatic weeds are a problem but don’t like the idea of the dead weeds being a nutrient for the algae. So far this year the weeds are limited.
This year we are not using algaecide nor herbicide. We may have to use the herbicide when we see how the rooted weeds come up but some are good for the fish population. We have a high population of Bass and blue gills with some crappie. There are many and some are large.
One of our large obstacles is the depth of the water with 48 inches being common with some areas 5-7 feet. There are some coves where the water is 12-18 inches which will improve as the organic materials are broken down.
We are focusing on reducing the nutrients in the water with the encouragement of phosphorus free fertilizer. Cleaning up the bottom is the other major source of nutrient for the algae.
We have found that we focus on the ponds / lakes were the water enters our association with heavier treatment and the down stream lake (5 acres requires very little BIOBUG® FS) I apply the materials weekly and if it rains heavily wait a day until the flow drops down. This year I started using the ½ lbs packaging as it allows me to spread out the application better especially with the shallow depth.
We are using 2 lbs per acre on the upstream ponds that are the hardest to control and are experimenting with 5 lbs on a one acre lake that has a lot of nutrients pouring in from another development. I really don’t know if the higher amount is helping but that is what we want to find out. In some cases when the algae was too thick we would rake a couple of the coves where the prevailing SW wind stacked it up in the past.
My projection is we will continue to have to fight the algae until the BIOBUG® FS cleans up the bottom. Next year we will add to two additional ultrasonic units to cover the remaining areas that are not covered. We have also found that some good hard rain is a great cleanser of the nutrients. In 2005 we had a very dry hot summer and lawn irrigation used up a lot of the pond water if we have another year like that we will have to cut down on the watering.
I believe our two component solution, BIOBUG® FS and Ultrasonic units has turned our lakes around.
We are pleased with the BIOBUG® FS and its treatment of the cause rather than a band aid on the effect. It is 100% better that last year.
BIOBUG® FS Success Story: Organic Waste Reduction
There are 7 ponds / Lakes which cover a total of 20 acres. The source of the water is about 700 acres of watershed which is primarily estate style homes and wetlands. Our association is 147 home sites that are 90 developed and every year another 3-4 are completed by different builders.
We started using BIOBUG® FS last year in May 2007. We buy the material directly from Bio Systems.
Our lakes have been managed by the primary developer until 4 years ago when we assumed management of our association and the lake care. Previously we used an herbicide in May and algaecide treatments about every few weeks. The company applying the material was applying copper sulfate that was not effective and only partially killed the algae which decayed on the bottom causing a black organic waste on the lake bottom.
After some research we determined that we would use BIOBUG® FS to breakdown the black organic materials with some impact on the algae. Also we ran some test last summer with Sonic Solutions Ultrasonic Algae Control Units. Last year since we were already contracted with the herbicide and algaecide treatment company we continued that application for the summer of 2007 with little impact on the algae primarily because of high alkalinity in the water. (Cutrine Plus would have been a better choice for an algaecide for sure.)
We used only 3 sonic units last year in the test and found they were effective where they were installed. Along with the BIOBUG® FS enzymes. We had as much as 2 ½ feet of organic material in some places on the bottom and generally 6-18 inches.
The results at the end of last year were very encouraging and we continued with the BIOBUG® FS enzyme treatment and added 3 more Ultrasonic units. Our expectation on the Organic material as presented by Bio Systems is that it would take 3-5 years to breakdown the deeper accumulations. There was a lot of resistance to dredging the bottom of the lakes because of the costs probably close to $1M.
This spring we ran some bottom evaluations and have found that we have eliminated 6-12 inches of bottom organics. We still have a long way to go. Also now we are able to see stone on the bottom and the water is crystal clear that was never the case before. The crystal clear water is a result of the ultrasonic units because of the impact on the suspended green algae that was impacted in a few weeks when they were turned on.
The BIOBUG® FS was very effective on the duckweed which is not affected by the ultrasonic units. We have budgeted money for herbicide as a backup incase the aquatic weeds are a problem but don’t like the idea of the dead weeds being a nutrient for the algae. So far this year the weeds are limited.
This year we are not using algaecide nor herbicide. We may have to use the herbicide when we see how the rooted weeds come up but some are good for the fish population. We have a high population of Bass and blue gills with some crappie. There are many and some are large.
One of our large obstacles is the depth of the water with 48 inches being common with some areas 5-7 feet. There are some coves where the water is 12-18 inches which will improve as the organic materials are broken down.
We are focusing on reducing the nutrients in the water with the encouragement of phosphorus free fertilizer. Cleaning up the bottom is the other major source of nutrient for the algae.
We have found that we focus on the ponds / lakes were the water enters our association with heavier treatment and the down stream lake (5 acres requires very little BIOBUG® FS) I apply the materials weekly and if it rains heavily wait a day until the flow drops down. This year I started using the ½ lbs packaging as it allows me to spread out the application better especially with the shallow depth.
We are using 2 lbs per acre on the upstream ponds that are the hardest to control and are experimenting with 5 lbs on a one acre lake that has a lot of nutrients pouring in from another development. I really don’t know if the higher amount is helping but that is what we want to find out. In some cases when the algae was too thick we would rake a couple of the coves where the prevailing SW wind stacked it up in the past.
My projection is we will continue to have to fight the algae until the BIOBUG® FS cleans up the bottom. Next year we will add to two additional ultrasonic units to cover the remaining areas that are not covered. We have also found that some good hard rain is a great cleanser of the nutrients. In 2005 we had a very dry hot summer and lawn irrigation used up a lot of the pond water if we have another year like that we will have to cut down on the watering.
I believe our two component solution, BIOBUG® FS and Ultrasonic units has turned our lakes around.
We are pleased with the BIOBUG® FS and its treatment of the cause rather than a band aid on the effect. It is 100% better that last year.