Algae Control
Algae control and reducing chlorine loss
Florida has very hot temperatures and high UV ratings, almost year round. That’s bad news for chlorine contact chambers, as chlorine costs are getting more expensive and the heat and UV is burning it up.
Keeping chlorine chambers shaded is a great benefit to keeping the UV rays out and keep the hot temperature down, not just for saving on chlorine costs, but cooling it down, helps keep the Trihalomethane (TTHM) count lower and it also produces Algae control.
Billy Waitt, the Superintendent at the waste water treatment plant in Bradenton, Florida, was concerned about this and wanted to find a cost effective solution for this problem.
He asked Chuck Baxter, owner of Mosher Enterprises, in Sarasota, to find a solution, for a UV protection system for his 7,500 sf. chlorine contact chamber that would provide Algae control and save money on his Chlorine costs.
Mosher Enterprises has been providing industrial services, repairs, and custom products, catering to water treatment plants and other related industries to the Sarasota and Bradenton area for the past 20+ years and Chuck was up to the task.
After investigating what type of shade systems were available, Chuck wasn’t impressed with the choices.
A pool cage type screen enclosure is not designed as an UV protection sunscreen material and it’s not very strong and it rips and tears. The frames are thin light weight, box tubing and are easily destroyed. Nothing is stainless steel. They are not industrial grade.
“Shade balls” are considered a good idea for very large uncontained areas, but not designed for chlorine contact chamber applications.
Tarp-type covers have some draw backs, they can hold a lot of water and become giant wind sails in heavy winds. The solid material does not allow the heat to escape and they require large heavy, permanent structural steel frames to support them, which are usually made from Carbon steel, and so is all the hardware, then painted, but eventually everything will rust. This also, is not an ideal design for water plant applications.
As a very discriminate problem solver, Chuck continued looking for an industrial grade sunscreen protection system designed just for water treatment plants.
The search ended with zero results. No one offers anything of the type and Chuck wasn’t going to settle for anything less.
So he decided to put together a package of the highest quality materials that suited the needs of this industry and offer it himself.
“Everything has to be the best of best, in order to be subjected to the harsh environmental conditions at water treatment plants.” Chuck said. “So I started with one of the best industrial screen material makers in the world, which happens to be right here in the good ole USA.”
Dewitt Fabric has been a family owned and operated, American manufacturer of industrial fabrics and screen materials since 1977. They manufacture a very strong, light weight, 90% UV protection and chlorine resistant sunscreen fabric made from a non coated, Polyolefin type, polypropylene material.
Because it is “knit”, it will not fray or unravel if damaged, unlike cheaper “woven” type materials and it has a 132 PSI bursting strength, so it is very strong for being light weight.
To demonstrate its strength, Chuck likes to stand on his display model, as shown in the pic.
The screen allows some air and water to flow thru it and release the heat, creating a cooler temperature under it.
Chuck uses an Actron laser temperature gauge to measure the concrete tank temperature. One pic is taken in the sun and another pic taken under the screen to show the difference in temperatures. Shown in pics.
“That’s amazing, there is only about 8” separating the 2 test spots and a there is about a 13 degree difference between them.” Chuck said.
To test the screens UV effectiveness, Chuck uses a Solarmeter, model 6.5, electronic UV measuring instrument, shown in the pic’s.
Chuck said “The UV in the sun is 9.1 and under the screen is 0.1. The difference in the UV results is even more amazing than the temperature difference. When you combine these results together, that is what makes this system so effective for reducing chlorine loss and it produces Algae control” .
Each screen is tailored to fit the tank. To achieve maximum shade coverage, Chuck also makes end curtain panels to help prevent sun and wind from coming in under it, which also makes it more aerodynamic and forces most of the wind to blow over it and not under it, so it does not get inflated and blow around in heavy winds. Shown in pic.
There are also covers made to go over the adjoining screen connections with 2” wide Velcro attachment for a strong, but easy access to the rigging system, as Chuck shows in the pics.
All the cables, rigging and hardware are marine grade, 316 stainless steel, so nothing will rust, corrode or have severe reaction to chlorine.
The aluminum mounting parts are the same type anodized aluminum industrial hand railing systems that are used on all facilities.
So after it’s all done, Chuck has created a very strong, maintenance free, low profile and removable, Industrial sunscreen system, unlike any other.
After Chuck installed the system, Billy said “It creates about a 30% reduction in my chlorine use, which saves a lot of money, and it helps with the Algae control, it works great and I’m very happy with it.”
Chuck estimates that with the screens life expectancy of about 8 or more years, depending on the wrath of Mother Nature, Billy should be able to recover the investment cost several times over.
Chuck also said “Since the 316 grade Stainless steel hardware is just about indestructible and will last almost forever, it can be reused. When the screens become old or severely damaged, replacing only the screens will be a fraction of the original installation cost. And that will save even more money, down the road, when that day comes. So this creates a very long term, return investment.”
These are also available for Decant tanks, plastic chemical storage tanks and other areas where UV protection and/ or Algae control is needed.
Finally, there is now, a cost effective solution to shade and cool your chlorine contact chambers that will save you money and it will make you money.
For more information, call Chuck at: (941) 376-6465