ARS | Publication request: Unit process engineering for water quality control and biosecurity in marine water recirculating systems

Submitted to: Fisheries and Fish Breeding in Israel
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: December 1, 2008
Publication Date: December 1, 2008
Citation: Summerfelt, S.T., Bebak, J.A. 2008. Unit process engineering for water quality control and biosecurity in marine water recirculating systems. Fisheries and Fish Breeding in Israel. 3(4):1251-1258.

Technical Abstract: High-intensity systems that treat and recirculate water must maintain a culture environment that can sustain near optimum fish health and growth at the design carrying capacity. Water recirculating systems that use centralized treatment systems can benefit from the economies of scale to decrease the relative cost of some of the more expensive water treatment technologies available. Hybrid systems are also used with treatment processes such as particle traps and oxygenators (which are located at each culture tank), while the bulk of the treatment components are provided in a central location. Both centralized treatment and hybrid systems are at risk from pathogen transfer or process failure, because some water treatment is still centralized. To reduce the risk of infection and disease, production system engineering principals and biosecurity practices must be applied during both the design and management phases for water recirculating systems that use centralized, distributed, or hybrid treatment processes. The proper use of mass balance equations can provide estimates of the water flow and treatment process requirements that will be required to maintain good water quality when the system is stocked and fed at full carrying capacity. Designing the production system with suitable water velocities and cleanouts on all pipe, conduit, and tanks can also be used to prevent biosolids from accumulating that might harbor pathogens or degrade water quality. Finally, biosecurity principals must be implemented to e to prevent introduction, dissemination, or release of pathogens throughout the fish culture systems.