Pond Aerator Beautifies RVCC "Front Door"

An aerator has been installed in the pond at the main entrance to campus. The cascading spray is intended to suppress the growth of algae, oxygenate the water and help create a healthy aquatic environment. It’s also pretty.

The move comes out of an agreement the college made last year with the federal Environmental Protection Agency to be an environmental steward, reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to a better environment. The installation of the aerator is the first step in RVCC’s commitment to obtaining “River Friendly Certification” from the New Jersey Water Supply Authority, the public body that manages the Raritan Basin watershed, Round Valley, Spruce Run and Manasquan reservoirs and the Delaware and Raritan Canal. Obtaining the certification is part of the EPA agreement.

The aerator was a recommendation of the RVCC Front Door Committee, whose mission is to improve the “front door” of the college.

According to committee member David Ross, RVCC director of first year experience, the aerator is intended to reduce the level of nutrients that accumulate from runoff. “Additional nutrients contribute to significant algae blooms in the pond during summer months." With four different nozzle settings, the aerator “provides a nice fountain that improves the appearance of the pond," Ross said.

The college’s facilities and grounds department installed the unit in November. According to Ross, the aerator itself cost $2,234, but about $7,000 was spent to upgrade utilities at the pond that could accommodate future “front door” enhancements. The project was funded by the College Foundation’s College Community Fund.

customers


Front Door Committee member David Ross, College Community Fund Committee member Audrey Loera, Front Door Committee member, Nancy LeStrange and Brian O’Rourke, executive director of Facilities and Grounds flank the new pond aerator which has four spray patterns.

The aerator “provides a nice fountain that improves the appearance of the pond”
-David Ross