Measuring Oxygenation
What Does Measuring Oxygenation Entail And Why Is It Important?
Ensuring full oxygenation of the entire water column, down to the benthic margin where water and sediment meet, is a crucial prerequisite for successfully remediating a eutrophic water body.
Without adequate oxygenation, other remediation steps cannot be effectively implemented.
When we conduct an initial assessment of a water body to gather the information necessary for a solution design, we not only measure dissolved oxygen levels from the surface to the bottom but also perform a bathymetric scan.
This scan allows us to calculate the volume of water and the area of sediment that is hypoxic, providing valuable insights into the extent of the problem.
How Do You Measure Oxygen Levels?
Measuring dissolved oxygen is a straightforward process when using the right equipment. A probe is lowered into the water, and readings are taken at regular intervals, typically every foot.
This enables us to identify the oxycline, which is the transition zone where the water becomes hypoxic.
By combining the dissolved oxygen measurements with the bathymetric data, we can calculate:
The volume of water that is hypoxic and therefore uninhabitable for animal life.
The surface area of sediment that is hypoxic, making it inhospitable to animal life and a primary source of nutrient recycling.
Without understanding the extent and distribution of hypoxia, it is impossible to design the RADOR oxygenation system and implement a successful remediation plan.
To track the water body’s condition and inform adaptive management practices for remediation and maintenance of water quality, we measure dissolved oxygen levels regularly throughout the year.
This ongoing monitoring allows us to assess the progress of our efforts and make necessary adjustments to optimize results.
What Do Oxygenation Measurements Tell You?
Understanding the degree of hypoxia and deoxygenation in a water body is essential for designing and configuring the RADOR oxygenation system. Without this knowledge, one would have to rely on guesswork, which can lead to ineffective or even counterproductive solutions.
Our RADOR (Rapid Acting Dissolved Oxygen Restoration) systems are designed to be adaptable, allowing compensation and adjustments in response to oxygenation dynamics, seasonal changes, and alterations in the lake’s depth profile due to successful Bio-Dredging.
This adaptability ensures that the oxygenation system are always optimally effective.
By conducting detailed measurements and modeling of dissolved oxygen levels throughout the water column using bathymetric data, we ensure that the water body remains fully oxygenated at all times.
This comprehensive approach is the foundation for successful lake restoration, because it creates the necessary conditions for other remediation strategies, such as Bio-Dredging and bioaugmentation, to be effective.
In summary, measuring oxygenation is a critical aspect of understanding and addressing the challenges posed by eutrophication.
By simplifying the science and explaining the importance of dissolved oxygen monitoring, bathymetric analysis, and adaptive management, we help stakeholders, such as lake associations, property owners, and local authorities, make informed decisions about the health and future of their water bodies.
This knowledge empowers them to take the correct actions, choose proven solutions, technology and lake management professionals to ensure wise investment decisions.
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CLEAN-FLO
827 Lincoln Avenue, Suite 1
West Chester, PA 19380
Phone: 800-328-6656
E: contact@clean-flo.com