Expert local pond company offers its services for free

MORE than 100 dead fish were removed from the pond at Saumarez Park yesterday as local company D W Lloyd Ltd began work to oxygenate the water, free of charge.

Dan Lloyd, the owner of D W Lloyd Ltd, throwing in Peridox, a disinfectant cleaner, into Saumarez Park pond after he offered his company’s services for free to try to revitalise the pond after it was affected by the falling water level. (Pictures by Luke Le Prevost, 31145667)

Due to the current weather conditions, fish in the pond had become concentrated into a small area, which, coupled with an increase of algae, had led to reduced oxygen levels.

To relieve pressure on the fish, Agriculture Countryside & Land Management Services has arranged for tankers of non-drinking water to be pumped into the pond this week.

D W Lloyd owner Dan Lloyd was so concerned by what he had seen, he contacted ACLMS and began work on the pond, free of charge, at 8am yesterday.

He said it was one of the worst ponds he had worked on.

‘This is important to me,’ he said. ‘When I saw the condition of the pond after being tagged in photos, I was shocked. My own children love the park and to see the fish dying is upsetting.’

States worker Peter De Garis empties the 10th load of water into the pond from his tanker, which can hold 7,000 litres. (31145683)

Seven tankers, each containing seven thousand litres of non-drinking water, had been added to the pond by early afternoon yesterday, and this will continue over the next few days.

Mr Lloyd is also using maintenance products including Peridox, from worldwide pond specialist OASE, who his company trains and works closely with.

‘The products are not harmful to fish, people, wildlife or livestock. This is not an over-the-counter product, it is specialised for professional use,’ he said.

‘We will also be using pumps around the pond to help aerate the water, and this, along with the tankers of water being delivered, should improve the situation quickly.’

Lots of living fish still remain in the water, he added, including many young fish.

‘We are trying to introduce oxygen into the water and since we have been doing this, there has been lots of movement with fish which is a good sign. And the ducks are loving the jets.

‘It’s going well but it’s a lot harder than we thought – it’s been a slow process.’

States natural environment director Jim Robinson said it was grateful for the company’s help.

‘This work is more complicated than it may first appear. For example, disturbing the sediment at the bottom of the pond will make matters worse, but through using their specialist knowledge and experience, oxygen levels in the pond can be increased while avoiding disturbance of this sediment.’

The public are again being asked to not feed the ducks, and to not allow dogs into the pond.