Treatment of channel catfish pond effluents in sedimentation basins

摘要

Channel catfish ponds discharge water after rainfall events, when ponds are drained partially to facilitate harvest and when ponds are completely drained to renovate fish populations or repair pond earthwork (Boyd et al. 2000). In Alabama, ponds typically discharge several times during winter and spring in response to rainfall. They are drained partially to facilitate harvest of fish at about six year intervals, and completely drained after 15 to 20 years. Water discharged following rain storms, during partial draining for harvest and the initial 70 to 75 percent of water released when ponds are completely drained has a composition similar to normal pond water. The final 25 to 30 percent of water drained from ponds is more concentrated in potentialpollutants than water released earlier in the draining process (Boyd 1978).