Impoundment Destratification for Raw Water Quality Control Using Either Mechanical‐or Diffused‐Air‐Pumping

Abstract

This article compares two methods of artificially destratifying lakes and reservoirs. Both methods, mechanical‐ and diffused‐air‐pumping broke up the thermal stratification patterns in the study lakes successfully and improved water quality. In both cases, dissolved oxygen (DO) was added to the water and sulfides, reduced iron and manganese were oxidized. Although some nitrogen and phosphorus was transported to the surface layers during mixing, excessive algal growths did not develop in either case. In both cases, actually, some environmental factors changed during mixing causing algal populations to decline. Populations of blue‐green algae declined more than green algal populations. In neither case were the declines permanent; the algal numbers increased again after mixing stopped.