New Solar Technology Keeps Reservoir Clean
Recently installed ‘green’ circulators on Oso Reservoir
keep water clear and habitat healthy

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA (June 6, 2008) - Residents may have noticed something strange lately at the Oso Reservoir on the border of Mission Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita. There are things floating out there in the water – things that look like giant three-legged metal bugs, or maybe tiny spaceships for little green men from another planet. Whatever they are, they don’t look natural.

But as it turns out, those “things” out there on the water are natural – or at least they are naturally treating the water, and they’re doing it in a way that is totally “green.”

These new additions to the Santa Margarita Water District’s Oso Reservoir are called SolarBees, and they use solar power to circulate water. Oso Reservoir is one of the first bodies of water in Orange County to utilize this technology.

The four SolarBees at Oso Reservoir operate entirely on solar power, captured by the photovoltaic panels affixed to each circulator. The SolarBees pump up water from below the surface and let it spill back across the top of the water. Even though the water is sucked up only a few inches, it is enough to get the water moving and circulate millions of gallons in the reservoir.

Circulation and oxygenation of the water are essential, because stagnant water can become discolored and odorous and foster growth of unwanted algae. The four SolarBees at Oso Reservoir, which are each about the size of a car, will be able to keep the 1.3 billion-gallon reservoir healthy and clear.

The job of water circulation and oxygenation at Oso Reservoir used to be done by a bubbler aeration system that blew air into the water, requiring electricity. The system was generally effective, but the reservoir still experienced periodic algae blooms that could discolor the water and harm wildlife. SMWD has also installed one SolarBee at its Portola Reservoir in Coto de Caza. Because the SolarBees run on solar power, the District will save $30,000 per year in energy costs that used to go to powering the blower systems.

“The new SolarBees are a perfect melding of the things that are most important to us at the District,” explained SMWD General Manager John Schatz. “We are conserving energy, saving money, providing customers with improved service, and all at a recycled water reservoir that helps the District conserve billions of gallons of water.”

The 125-acre Oso Reservoir stores recycled water used for irrigation in Mission Viejo. SMWD conserves over one billion gallons of drinking water each year through its recycled water programs.

SMWD is Orange County’s second-largest water district, serving a customer base of more than 150,000 residents and businesses in Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto de Caza, Las Flores and inland southern Orange County, including the communities of Ladera Ranch and Talega.

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