baffle curtains are vertical impermeable barriers in a pond or reservoir. These curtains direct the flow of water into the longest possible path through the reservoir eliminating short-cutting in the water treatment system. Short-cutting occurs when water flows directly from the inlet to the outlet across a pond or reservoir. In potable water treatment short-cutting can reduce the effectiveness of disinfectants. In effluent treatment short-cutting may result in an increase of pollutants at the outlet.
Layfield's AquaGuide baffle curtains prevent short-cutting in water treatment in both drinking water and effluent treatment applications. In drinking water treatment baffle curtains are placed in clearwells and reservoirs to increase the contact time of chlorine with the water. In effluent treatment a floating baffle curtain eliminates short-cutting in the treatment pond ensuring that all water has had the required time for the effluent treatment to take full effect.
Many water reservoir and treatment ponds were built many years ago and designed for lower flow volumes. As flow volumes increase the risk of water short-cutting from the inlet to the outlet grows. A reservoir built in the 1950's for a specific population may not be able to maintain chlorine contact times because the water flows directly from the inlet to the outlet at high flow rates. A baffle curtain prevents water from flowing directly across the reservoir/pond creating a long serpentine path that makes sure the water is treated for the designed retention time. The goal is to achieve a "plug flow" condition where you get first in/first out water flow.
Layfield can provide fixed and floating AquaGuide baffle curtains for all sizes of ponds and reservoirs. In concrete reservoirs and tanks we commonly attach the curtains to the floor and roof. In open ponds we typically use floats and cables to hold the baffles in place. Call your Layfield representative for more information on AquaGuide baffle curtains.