ARL Water Filtration System
It takes a major effort and some impressive technology to maintain nearly 300,000 gallons of water in the Arctic Ring of Life (ARL). According to Aquatic Life Support Technician Paul Wilbert, a variety of treatment techniques are required to keep water in the ARL's three major pools clear and sparkling so visitors can see and the animals can live in a healthy environment.
Water is continuously pumped out of the pools via skimmers at the top and main drains at the bottom to the treatment building, where it goes directly into high-pressure sand filters. Each pool has its own bank of two to four filtration units. These remove large particles of suspended matter from the water as it flows through. Fresh water goes straight back to the 40,000-gallon pool after sand filtration.
Salt water requires more treatment. For example, water from the 150,000-gallon Ice Bear pool goes from the sand filter to an ozone contact chamber. This is a very reliable oxidizing gas treatment that disinfects the water.
Salt water sand filters are backwashed regularly. The backwashed salt water is filtered and disinfected so it can be reused. This conserves salt water and drastically reduces the discharge of salt water into the sewer system.
Special equipment includes water quality monitors which adjust temperature and chemical parameters 24 hours a day. Rainbow trout are kept in a separate fish holding system in the life support room before being offered to the bears as enrichment.
|
