The City of Newport News, Va., recently completed construction of a three-acre lake as part of a future business center off Oyster Point Road. The city wanted to highlight this centerpiece lake with fountains to enhance the aesthetics of the site. In addition, the city wished to address some water quality problems that resulted in nuisance algae growth last summer.

Proposals and designs were requested from several companies, and the city ultimately chose Aquatic Services, Inc. of Richmond to provide fountains and aeration equipment to meet the specific requirements of this site. Four primary fountains would fulfill the impressive spray pattern desired by the city. Aquatic Services' design also included eight aerators that would move large volumes of water to help maintain good water quality.

Aeration is a cost-effective method of enhancing water quality. It stimulates natural clean up processes in a pond or lake and heightens both the quality of the water and the aesthetic setting. Aeration is an ongoing management tool that helps create an environment less conducive to algae and odors.

Phosphorous is the limiting nutrient in freshwater environments. If phosphorous levels are too high, single-celled and filamentous algae quickly become a nuisance. When pond bottom waters are lacking in oxygen, phosphorous is cycled from the sediments to the water. However, when oxygen is present (from aeration) throughout the total water column, phosphorous is locked up in the bottom sediments and consequently not available for plant growth.

A 15-HP Nova fountain sits in the center of the lake, shooting water 65 feet into the air. Three 15-HP Polaris fountains surround the Nova, spraying water 35 feet high in a wide pattern. Four 5-HP Tri-Star aerators surround the fountains, working in conjuction with four 3-HP Sunburst aerators.

For this design, Aquatic Services chose Otterbine Barebo’s line of fountains and aerators. Almost 100 horsepower of fountains and aerators are utilized. For the fountains, a 15-HP Nova model is centrally located in the round lake. This unit shoots water 65 feet into the air in a narrow stream. Three 15-HP Polaris fountains surround the Nova. These models spray water 35 feet high in a wide pattern. The combination of these four fountains provided the striking water display requested by the city.

The surface aerators were used primarily for their visual impact. There are two general methods of aeration: sub-surface and surface. Sub-surface systems inject air below the water's surface. Surface aeration models float and throw water into the air. This action increases the water-to-air surface ratio and adds oxygen into the water. In addition, water circulation breaks up stratification in a lake or pond.

Four 5-HP Tri-Star aerators surround the fountains. This model provides a three-tiered water display moving approximately 1,200 GPM each. The real workhorses are the four 3-HP Sunburst aerators that each pump about 1,500 GPM. The fountains and Tri-Star aerators are highlighted with 21,000 watts of halogen lights to create a spectacular night display. In addition, most of the lights are computer-controlled to sequence on and off.

This project shows that it is possible to design an impressive water display that not only meets aesthetic design criteria but can also help maintain good water quality.