What are those round solar paneled objects floating in the middle of our lagoons?
They are a high volume water pumping system capable of moving 1000s of gallons per hour from the bottom of the lagoons to the surface, all powered by solar energy.
Why do we need to create artificial currents of water moving from the bottom of the lagoon to the surface? The water in the lagoons are not stagnant, there is a steady daily exchange of water from the bay.
The answer is that there are many stagnated areas of water in the lagoons where sediments accumulate and anaerobic microorganisms thrive. To control the unwanted algae and weed growth the city is required to add expensive chemicals to the water.
The new water movement systems are called Solar Bees. Solar Bees have been around for some time and have been introduced to many lakes, lagoons and water ways throughout the US with extraordinary results in improving water quality.
Anyone with the experience of having a pond in their backyard or even an aquarium knows how fast water quality deteriorates when the water is stagnating. The main reason is oxygen. Water with low oxygen levels looses clarity, begins to have a foul smell and loses overall quality very quickly.
Our lagoons provide a uniqueness and elegance to our beautiful city. They are not only nice to look at but also to recreate in and on. When my husband and I first moved to Foster City we could see people swimming in the lagoons with no concern for the quality of the water; that is not the case today. Aged sediments, low oxygen levels, and chemicals are all of concern.
I have heard from some of our residents that the Solar Bees are unattractive and take away from the aesthetics of the lagoons. I would ask; if the water quality in the lagoons is significantly improved, is the trade off of seeing some floating solar panels worth it? If we can stop or dramatically reduce the chemical additions, improve clarity and generate a healthier and better smelling lagoon is it worth it?
“The proof of the pudding is in the eating”, as such, the Solar Bees are being observed and tested for their efficacy over the next 6 months. When the data is in we will all know just how much of an improvement the system has made. For those of you who object to the “look” of the Solar Bees I would ask for your patience.
If for some reason they do not work as well as we believe, they will be removed. When the results are in and if they do work well, then we can decide between water quality and lagoon surface aesthetics. Who knows, maybe we can find some compromises that achieve both. All things are possible for people willing to try.
For comments on this or other issues, you may email me at lkoelling@fostercity.org.
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