Preventing Midges / Flies Entering Raw Water Tanks

Published on by in Technology

We are looking for an innovative way to stop midges from populating our tanks.

There are a large number of indoor uncovered Granular Activated Carbon absorbers (GACs) within concrete tanks (generally 4×7 metres), that attract midges (Chironomid) which lay eggs on the surface of the water.

These then populate the GAC as larvae and in turn return back to the surface to pupate and re-emerge as flying midge. Our teams spend a lot of time making sure our water is of the highest quality and we take steps to prevent the midges entering the water network.

We understand from previous studies that ideal conditions for the midges are calm water surfaces. The ideal solutions may disturb this environment, be easy to install and would not create a lot of noise or harm the tanks.

More details can be found here: http://waterinnovation.net/opportunities/midge-opportunity/#more-323 

Taxonomy

6 Answers

  1. For the most effective control of these larvae, facility operators need to break this life cycle, preventing future generations from developing. By using carefully spraying ecological Insecticide (insect repellents) around landscaping of the storage tank. Also will help by planting Neem Tree will help to reduce the numbers of the insects.

    But, for all the uncertainty over details, various neem extracts are known to act on various insects in the following ways:

    • Disrupting or inhibiting the development of eggs, larvae, or pupae;

    • Blocking the molting of larvae or nymphs;

    • Disrupting mating and sexual communication;

    • Repelling larvae and adults;

    • Deterring females from laying eggs;

  2. Hi Nilam,

    Hope these links help.

    https://www.strikeproducts.com/-/media/files/strikeproducts-na/us/strike%20products%20best%20practices%20guide.pdf

    And the EPA have also reached a milestone in that regard

    https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyNET.exe/200021UB.TXT?ZyActionD=ZyDocument&Client=EPA&Index=1995+Thru+1999&Docs=&Query=&Time=&EndTime=&SearchMethod=1&TocRestrict=n&Toc=&TocEntry=&QField=&QFieldYear=&QFieldMonth=&QFieldDay=&IntQFieldOp=0&ExtQFieldOp=0&XmlQuery=&File=D%3A%5Czyfiles%5CIndex%20Data%5C95thru99%5CTxt%5C00000015%5C200021UB.txt&User=ANONYMOUS&Password=anonymous&SortMethod=h%7C-&MaximumDocuments=1&FuzzyDegree=0&ImageQuality=r75g8/r75g8/x150y150g16/i425&Display=hpfr&DefSeekPage=x&SearchBack=ZyActionL&Back=ZyActionS&BackDesc=Results%20page&MaximumPages=1&ZyEntry=1&SeekPage=x&ZyPURL

  3. You may want to try our ultrasonic biofilm control system for this application made by Hydro BioScience®,  From the tank description, our Mezzo-DB® unit would suffice.  Midge eggs are deposited in the biofilm layer where they grow to larva, then pupa before emerging as a fly. Eliminating the biofilm layer stops the process at the root cause.  The ultrasonic signature of our device is interpreted by anaerobic bacteria as water turbulence, a place they are naturally adverse to colonizing.  This prevents the first layer from forming so that subsequent aerobic bacterial layers do not continue to attach.  Device cost is under $2000.  george@algaecontrol.us

  4. As Ted mentioned the Australians have a good system and so do the Germans - Wisy, 3P Technik, Intewa.... The design is the issue. You need to design the system to not allow midges in or out. Having a screen in the inflow to keep them and debris out and a pee trap on the overflow to block them from leaving. We have the mosquito issue in the USA. An uncovered tank does not help the matter. for more info go to http://arcsa.org