On October 8th, 2013 the PLSLWD Board of Managers voted 3-2 to apply alum (aluminum sulfate) to Spring Lake this fall. The alum will be applied by HAB Aquatic Solutions, Inc., a specialized company in aluminum-based products from Nebraska. The application will most likely start during the last week of October or early November, and is expected to take between 10 and 14 days to complete.
Alum will be applied to Spring Lake using a barge, where it will form a fluffy, “cotton ball-like” substance that binds to phosphorus. The barge will operate up to 12 hours per day, and there will be several deliveries of alum by 5,000 gallon tanker trucks every day in order to properly dose Spring Lake.
A barge will apply alum to Spring Lake.
Spring Lake residents will be notified of the start of the treatment as soon as the official schedule has been decided. While the alum is being applied to the lake the District recommends that boats make an effort to go slow and minimize wakes. The more calm the water the less the alum will be moved around, and the more effective the treatment will be.
Check out the most recent article highlighting the PLSLWD Board’s approval of the alum treatment in the Prior Lake American. Please contact the District if you have any questions or concerns about the treatment and be sure to stay tuned for updates!