Comparative Study With Costs of Hypolimnetic Aeration

Hypolimnetic aeration/oxygenation is a means of thermal stratification maintenance and oxygenation of hypolimnetic waters in a lake or reservoir. The process differs from destratification, where the objective is reduction or elimination of thermal stratification and oxygenation of the bottom waters. Hypolimnetic aeration/oxygenation greatly improves domestic and industrial water quality, satisfies downstream water release standards, creates suitable habitat for yearlong survival of coldwater fish, and otherwise benefits the environment. Methods of hypolimnetic aeration/oxygenation which use pure oxygen, a partial air lift pump and a full air lift pump are described and analyzed. Cost estimates for these systems at San Vicente Reservoir, California reveal that the full air lift design is substantially more efficient and less costly to operate.