This page provides general information about pond maintenance and HOA’s approach to managing the Algae in Kenilworth’s pond:
What causes Algae growth?
– Algae is everywhere, and inevitable!
– Algae is caused by nutrients in the water, mostly nitrogen and phosphorus
– For community bodies of water the two most common causes are:
– Fertilizers and
– Grass clippings
How is Algae growth managed?
Since Algae is inevitable, the approach to managing it is to reduce the causes through a combination of reactive and proactive strategies.
Reactive: once Algae appears, chemical treatment (which is the method that we use at Kenilworth) is the best method to control it. Chemicals work by breaking down the Algae.
Proactive: aerators are effective in reducing the growth of Algae. There are 3 types of aerators: Fountain, Surface, and Submerged. Fountains and surface aerators are effective for ponds that are less than 5 feet deep while Submerged aerators work best in deeper ponds. Kenilworth’s pond is equipped with 2 submerged aerators.
Tips to help prevent Algae from growing faster / larger:
– To the extent possible, keep grass clippings from making their way into the pond (both when cut next to the pond and clippings on the street that make their way into the pond through the street grates and storm system that flows into the pond.
– Reduce the use of lawn fertilizer
What is Kenilworth HOA doing to prevent Algae?
– We have scheduled 3 annual treatments for chemical treatments to kill the Algae. Treatments cannot occur until the water is warm enough. First treatment for Kenilworth was made on 5/26 (if you can smell it, it is working)!
– We have 2 submerged aerators that were turned on very early this spring.
Can dredging help?
Not really. Algae is everywhere and inevitable. While dredging may reduce the algae for a few months, it will not impact the long-term possibility of Algae formation.
– Dredging will not change the level of nutrients in the pond that is creating a fertile ground for the Algae.
– The main function of Kenilworth’s pond is to collect storm water from around the circle and provide an outlet for any overflow. DNR requires a recertification of the pond every 5 years in order to inspect the inlets/outlets and ensure that the pond is functioning as intended. To date, except for minor repairs scheduled for some of the inlets, the pond has been certified to work properly and dredging has not been required. We will have a 10 year “heads up” should dredging become a DNR requirement and we will budget accordingly at that time.