Water Pump Installation - Inspection - Fish Screen Installation
Unlimited, abundant, clean, fresh water on demand - year around.
Properly installed in-lake water pumps often last more than 20 years.
If you are considering installing an in-water lake pump for your domestic or irrigation use, it starts with getting the facts. The biggest "unknowns" usually concern the underwater placement of the pump and waterlines.
The first step is an assessment inspection where we identify the best location for the pump considering:
Once the water system is put together, we return and place the pump and waterlines in their predetermined place on the lake bottom. As part of our service, we provide an underwater video of the completed pump installation.
The first step is an assessment inspection where we identify the best location for the pump considering:
- The best depth for water pump placement and how far that location is from the shoreline.
- Any environmental considerations such as critical habitat and aquatic species at risk. This is a standard check we do with the Department of Fisheries - it's anonymous and no additional charge... and you get the report.
Once the water system is put together, we return and place the pump and waterlines in their predetermined place on the lake bottom. As part of our service, we provide an underwater video of the completed pump installation.
Question: Why is it a good idea to have the assessment inspection done?
It's important to place the pump deep enough to avoid the environmentally fragile "grow" zone where sunlight penetrates the water supporting plant growth like algae - which is critical for the environment, but degrades drinking water quality. We search out the best spot for clean water while avoiding ecologically sensitive areas identified by the Department of Fisheries as critical habitat and areas with aquatic species at risk.
By providing accurate measurements of depth and distance from the shoreline to the best location for your water pump, your pump contractor can provide you with informed quotes for material such as the length of water pipe required and length and gauge of wire needed. We provide you with a confidential written report of our findings and a video.
It's important to place the pump deep enough to avoid the environmentally fragile "grow" zone where sunlight penetrates the water supporting plant growth like algae - which is critical for the environment, but degrades drinking water quality. We search out the best spot for clean water while avoiding ecologically sensitive areas identified by the Department of Fisheries as critical habitat and areas with aquatic species at risk.
By providing accurate measurements of depth and distance from the shoreline to the best location for your water pump, your pump contractor can provide you with informed quotes for material such as the length of water pipe required and length and gauge of wire needed. We provide you with a confidential written report of our findings and a video.
- Why is it important to have a diver place the water pump and waterlines?
- At one time it was common practice to permanently attach a rope with a surface marker to be able to pull the pump up to the surface for repairs or inspection...DIY's often attach a line to their water pump believing that it is important to be able to recover their pump. The thing to keep in mind that a properly installed pump has a life expectancy well in excess of twenty years. The main issue is that every time the pump is brought to the surface, then re-installed on the lake bottom, there is a better than even chance that the pump will end up tipped over sucking up bottom silt. The other problem with having a buoyed line attached to the pump is that boaters either tie up to the surface float or they snag the float line with fishing tackle resulting in the pump being pulled over. This happens a-lot. It is also important from an environmental aspect to leave the pump system in place once installed as it becomes part of the underwater ecosystem... disturbing it disturbs the underwater environment.
- Placing the pump in a PVC sleeve extending out from the shoreline so it can be pulled out for replacement or inspection... This practice creates a huge visual issue as it is hard/impossible to camouflage the PVC pipe. As well, it is difficult to place the pump at the depth and distance required to get it below the environmentally fragile "grow zone." It has been our experience that over time the PVC pipe water intake gets plugged up with silt requiring flushing. This problem is compounded by the Regional District/Dept. of Fisheries rules regarding the fish screen requirement on all in-water intakes in fish bearing waters.
Protecting the water/electrical lines at the shoreline:
It is quite common that long before the water pump wears out, the water/electrical poly pipes develop rub spots and holes at the shoreline. Keep in mind that the Kootenay Lake shoreline level fluctuates 12 feet (3.6 m) or more every year, so the exposed shoreline changes with the high water level in June to the low water level in April. The main issue being that wave energy moves the water/electrical lines at the shoreline (and even a few feet below the water level). Depending on how exposed the shoreline is to wave energy, this can cause movement ranging from a intermittent rubbing of the lines on the lake bottom rocks to enough energy to displace the lines entirely.
Through the years we have seen a lot of remedies used to protect the waterlines - some more successful than others. However, the best solution that we have found is to zip tie a length of steel cable to the waterline /electrical bundle from just above the high water mark level to just below the low water level. The steel cable does two things; due to it's weight (and gravity), the cable tends to work it's way down under the water/electrical line bundle and becomes the contact point with the rocks on the lake bottom. With the steel cable on the underside of the bundle, it protects the softer poly material that the waterline is made of from rubbing on the rocks and wearing out. The other thing that the continuous attached cable does is to help keep the water/electrical line from being displaced (moved) by extreme wave action. Basically it tends to keep the lines anchored.
As new steel cable tends to get quite expensive we have located a source of used 3/4 inch steel cable in excellent condition. Weighing about a pound per foot, it works great for protecting and weighing down the waterline bundle at the shoreline interface. We have found that 30 to 40 feet is about right for most sites. As well, this is a fairly easy "do it yourself" job if done at low water in April. Otherwise, it usually requires a diver. If this solution works for you, we sell the cable for $2.00 per foot.
It is quite common that long before the water pump wears out, the water/electrical poly pipes develop rub spots and holes at the shoreline. Keep in mind that the Kootenay Lake shoreline level fluctuates 12 feet (3.6 m) or more every year, so the exposed shoreline changes with the high water level in June to the low water level in April. The main issue being that wave energy moves the water/electrical lines at the shoreline (and even a few feet below the water level). Depending on how exposed the shoreline is to wave energy, this can cause movement ranging from a intermittent rubbing of the lines on the lake bottom rocks to enough energy to displace the lines entirely.
Through the years we have seen a lot of remedies used to protect the waterlines - some more successful than others. However, the best solution that we have found is to zip tie a length of steel cable to the waterline /electrical bundle from just above the high water mark level to just below the low water level. The steel cable does two things; due to it's weight (and gravity), the cable tends to work it's way down under the water/electrical line bundle and becomes the contact point with the rocks on the lake bottom. With the steel cable on the underside of the bundle, it protects the softer poly material that the waterline is made of from rubbing on the rocks and wearing out. The other thing that the continuous attached cable does is to help keep the water/electrical line from being displaced (moved) by extreme wave action. Basically it tends to keep the lines anchored.
As new steel cable tends to get quite expensive we have located a source of used 3/4 inch steel cable in excellent condition. Weighing about a pound per foot, it works great for protecting and weighing down the waterline bundle at the shoreline interface. We have found that 30 to 40 feet is about right for most sites. As well, this is a fairly easy "do it yourself" job if done at low water in April. Otherwise, it usually requires a diver. If this solution works for you, we sell the cable for $2.00 per foot.
When attached, recycled 3/4 inch steel cable protects and helps anchor the water/electrical lines at the shoreline
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A clean cut just before taping makes the cable easier and safer to manage
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Pump stands need to be stable, protect the pump, and allow a minimum of 12 inches (30 cm) distance from the intake to the lake bottom
Fish Screens
Fish Screen Fish Screens- Regulations introduced by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in 1995 - Required by the Regional District for Central Kootenay
Section 30 - Fisheries Act requires a fish screen on all in-water intakes.
The installation of a properly designed and maintained fish screen on all in-water pump intakes (domestic or otherwise) is for the protection of fish.
The idea behind the screen is to keep even small fish (25mm/1 inch) from being drawn (entrainment) into the intake of an in-water pump as well as to allow the fish to not be trapped on the screen surface (impingement) by the force of water being drawn into the pump.
How do I get a fish screen installed? You can have your pump company install the fish screen when they are doing routine maintenance or replacing your existing "in-lake" pump. However, if you're the "do it yourself" type, you can easily install it yourself. We have the standard fish screen (slips on a Sch 40, 4 inch PVC pump sleeve) in stock, boxed, and ready to ship.
For more information on the EnviroMarine Ltd. fish screens please go to the Fish Screen page under "More" . https://www.kootenaydiving.com/fish-screen.html
Call for a no obligation quote 1-250-254-5076 or email [email protected]
Section 30 - Fisheries Act requires a fish screen on all in-water intakes.
The installation of a properly designed and maintained fish screen on all in-water pump intakes (domestic or otherwise) is for the protection of fish.
The idea behind the screen is to keep even small fish (25mm/1 inch) from being drawn (entrainment) into the intake of an in-water pump as well as to allow the fish to not be trapped on the screen surface (impingement) by the force of water being drawn into the pump.
How do I get a fish screen installed? You can have your pump company install the fish screen when they are doing routine maintenance or replacing your existing "in-lake" pump. However, if you're the "do it yourself" type, you can easily install it yourself. We have the standard fish screen (slips on a Sch 40, 4 inch PVC pump sleeve) in stock, boxed, and ready to ship.
For more information on the EnviroMarine Ltd. fish screens please go to the Fish Screen page under "More" . https://www.kootenaydiving.com/fish-screen.html
Call for a no obligation quote 1-250-254-5076 or email [email protected]