Effects of Liming on Quality of Water Discharged from the Supply Reservoir at a Fisheries Research Station

Abstract

Annual treatment of a water supply reservoir with agricultural limestone at the E. W. Shell Fisheries Center at Auburn University has roughly doubled conductivity and concentrations of total alkalinity, total hardness, and calcium hardness in the discharge water. It also has prevented pH values below 6.7. Concentrations of water quality variables decreased following some large rainfall events and during periods of prolonged rainfall. Calcium hardness concentrations were sometimes lower than recommended for hatchery water supplies intended for Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus. Nevertheless, liming has improved the quality of the reservoir discharge for use in both the hatchery and research ponds at the station.

Received December 3, 2015; accepted May 9, 2016