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The featured attraction at a municipal park is often a pond or lake, for fishing, swimming, boating, picnicking or walking on paths around the perimeter. But keeping recreational waters attractive and useable in these days of limited budgets can be challenging. Maintaining water quality can be expensive and unsuccessful. Algae blooms and bad odors can send park visitors elsewhere, despite the best efforts to provide an attractive open space.
It can cost hundreds of dollars to clean up the water quality, often using chemicals, yet the problem soon returns. A long-term solution requires an understanding of pond biology--why a pond goes “bad,” what makes it “clean,” and how to keep it that way all season without undue expense or maintenance.
Why Good Ponds Go “Bad”
Ponds are susceptible to what are commonly known as harmful algae blooms (HABs). These are caused by blue-green algae, more formally known as cyanobacteria. HABs generally occur in warm weather and in stagnant water conditions, when a pond has a high level of nutrients. HABs may present themselves as “pond scum,” and may also exist throughout the water column. They can produce potent toxins, so the problem is more than just unsightly. Failure to address these concerns can cause serious health issues for humans, pets and wildlife.