Artificial Mixing to Improve Reservoir Water Quality
Following public complaints of metallic tasting water and compliance issues, South West Water asked us to investigate ways of improving oxygen levels in Upper Tamar Lake, Devon. A previous study of this important reservoir indicated elevated levels of manganese were the result of sediment release during summer stratification and poor oxygen levels in bottom waters. We used our own in-house Sediment Oxygen Demand (SOD) chamber to provide accurate and reliable estimates of SOD. We also devised a mass flux model to determine overall oxygen demand and carried out a detailed sonar survey to obtain up to date volume calculations. APEM recommended a range of artificial mixing options using a spread of 30 mixing units. These were installed and are now operational.
