Vinyl Breathes New Life into Ontario's Lakes

A great sigh of relief is being breathed into Ontario’s lakes as a result of the development of a new vinyl ducting system. The new "Chesley Lake Lung", is a pioneering effort in lake remediation, by the partners, Friends of Chesley Lake, Ontario Ministry of Environment and Energy (MOEE) and IPEX Inc. - Canada's leading vinyl pipe manufacturer. It will dramatically raise oxygen levels and virtually stop blue-green algae pollution which has traditionally closed many lakes throughout the province.

The lake Lung supplies pure oxygen to the cold, bottom waters of the lake, through a process known as "hypolimnetic aeration", while maintaining the lakes stratification. The oxygen is generated on shore and distributed throughout the lake through the Lake Lung's vinyl ducting system. The Lung itself is suspended over the deepest basin of the lake.

The Chesley Lake Lung will be installed in Chesley Lake for the 1997 season. Chesley Lake's water quality problems have been a result of extensive cottage development over the years, which caused a build-up of organic matter and sediment on the lake bottom. The settling of this decomposing organic material at the bottom resulted in the depletion of oxygen by early summer. With no available oxygen, the aquatic food chain and fish habitat were severely impacted.

The seriousness of the problem at Chesley Lake was brought to IPEX's attention by Andy Gemza, Inland Lake Specialist with the Environmental Monitoring and Reporting Branch of the MOEE, in a search for the right products to build the Lung. "The harsh freeze-thaw conditions faced by the Lake Lung in an open lake setting necessitated the need for a product with uncompromising integrity and longevity. That requirement naturally led us to vinyl products," said Mr. Gemza.

"The decision was made to use vinyl pipe as it obviously held the best promise as an environmentally friendly solution to this very serious problem. IPEX recommended Ultra-Rib pipe for flotation pontoons and Vent Ducting for the Lake Lung's body," he added. After five years of operation at Lake Chesley and Lake Whittaker, two southern Ontario test-lake locations, the vinyl products have performed perfectly with pipe integrity fully intact.

The proof is the water. Oxygen levels have been revived. Beach closures due to algae pollution have stopped and water clarity has sharply increased. "What did you guys do, this is incredible!" are regular comments heard by the Metro Region and Kettle Creek Conservation Authorities, where lake conditions have greatly improved resulting in happy visitors and happy fish too!

Who says you can't bring new life to an old problem. Vinyl products have once again shown that they are valuable and good for the environment.

If you would like to know more about the Lake Lung program, please contact Andy Gemza at the MOEE (416-235-5801) or contact him at his e-mail address : gemzaan@ene.gov.on.ca.