Seven Reasons to Avoid Pond Fountains
For years, homeowners, H.O.A’s, and property managers believed that fountains were the answer to keeping ponds and lakes clean and algae-free.
Consumers are now slowly learning that fountains are not a viable solution, recognizing that they are relics of a time when people were less concerned about energy costs or detrimental environmental impact.
We have extensive experience with fountains, and can attest that they are a very poor method of abating algae and other pond problems.
Indeed, the Kentucky State Aquaculture Center States that, “Fountains will not typically provide an energy efficient or practical source of aeration/water destratification in most ponds.”
So, why are fountains impractical? The following is a list of reasons outlining the inadequacies of pond fountains:
1. Fountains are Bad at Aerating Your Pond:
By spraying water into the air, fountains rely on air-water contact for oxygen transfer. Because the water droplets’ airtime is relatively short, and their surface area relatively small, only minimal quantities of oxygen are imparted into the water.
The MARS, on the other hand, is a pond management alternative emits many millions of bubbles daily, each with a longer rise time and comparably larger surface area/volume ratio—allowing it to add much more oxygen to the entire water column.
2. Fountains Waste Your Money with Inefficient Operation:
Propelling water into the air is rather energy intensive. It is for the same reason that propeller-driven watercraft get terrible gas mileage—often below 4 miles per gallon—because moving water around requires loads of energy.
It is quite normal for a water fountain to consume more than twice the energy as a diffused air system, like the MARS.
3. Fountains are Inadequate at Mixing Your Pond:
Fountains fail to mix the entire water column as they both draw water from and spray water over the pond’s surface. The deeper regions of the pond are typically the most nutrient (algae food) and oxygen deprived—therefore fountains fail to circulate the part of the pond that needs it most.
4. Fountain Manufacturers Recommend That You Use Dangerous Chemicals:
Most fountain manufacturers will recommend the use of toxic chemicals like copper sulfate with their products to prevent algae growth and, therefore, minimize clogging. This recommendation alone indicates that fountains are inadequate for the treatment of pond algae.
Not only does this chemical recommendation add a significant cost to the use of fountains, but it is potentially dangerous for life both in and around the pond. Please refer to the article, “Protecting National Water Resources” for more information on dangerous pond chemicals like algaecides and herbicides.
5. Fountain’s High Maintenance Requirements are a Burden:
In the Northern climates, fountains must be removed every fall and replaced every spring as they cannot operate in the freezing winter months. During this time, they must also be stored; many consumers pay thousands of dollars annually for these services on top of the high costs of electricity and toxic chemicals.
What’s more, fountains regularly clog with algae, plant debris, and waste (i.e. plastic bags), necessitating their removal and maintenance—often times by a professional.
6. Fountains Don’t Allow You to Aerate in the Winter:
Because fountains utilized in Northern climates must be removed in the winter, there is no pond mixing during these months. This allows the surface of the water to freeze over and begin to trap accumulating noxious gasses that can lead to fish kills.
7. Fountains Raise Safety Concerns Around Your Pond:
Fountains require electricity to be run into and across the pond, and this represents a large safety concern to life in and around the area if the integrity of the wire is compromised.
For an energy efficient, eco-friendly alternative to pond management, check out the MARS Aeration System. Its patented Double Bubble™ Technology both mixes and aerates your pond—keeping it healthy, clear, and algae and odor free.
About the Author
Braden Galbreath-O’Leary is a pond management expert for Triplepoint Water Technologies, based outside of Chicago, IL. He and his colleagues are committed to providing efficient, sustainable, and environmental solutions to the water and waste wastewater industries.
For more information on the MARS Aeration system, visit our home page and watch the video on Eco-Friendly Pond Aeration.
For more information on the MARS Technology, visit: Double Bubble™ Technology.
To read more about ponds, visit the Pond Blog.
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