OWS Windmill Aerator

Placement of your air stations is important because of the zone of influence for each diffuser. You can think of this zone of influence as an inverted cone. The air station is the small point of the cone, and the water surface above is the large area of the cone. This is why placing air stations at the deepest points of your dam is important because the deeper the water is, the larger the span of the cone at the surface. This zone of influence is also impacted by anything that gets in the way of the cone. For instance, islands or shorelines will restrict the zone of influence by stopping the agitated surface water from spreading. As part of our free water treatment plans, we’ll provide advice on the exact locations to place your air stations to ensure your entire water body is adequately aerated.

The OWS windmill can handle very strong winds because it is built and tested in Springdale, Arkansas, USA, which is located in “tornado alley” an area that commonly gets tornados. In very strong winds, the windmill has a built-in safety feature that turns the head 90 degrees to the wind so only the very edge of the windmill collects the wind. When the wind drops off it, the windmill head then self-corrects and go back to facing into the wind.

The air stations are essentially self-cleaning except for in the case where you don't run them for an extended length of time. That said, it's good practice to blast the air stations every few months by shutting off all but one air station, pushing all the air through it, and then doing the same for remaining air stations, before resetting them to their previous valve settings.

Yes, we send you everything you need to complete the job aside from concrete which is required to mount the footings. You can either pour three concrete footings for the legs of the windmill stand or pour a concrete pad.

Yes, you can. You will receive installation instructions with the gear. And it can be put together with common tools like a spanner, screw drivers etc. That said, you’ll need at least four strong, able-bodied people to be able to lift the windmill into place after assembling it on the ground. You will also need to pour/install three concrete footings or place a concrete slab beneath it.

No, the air pump is actually built into the windmill head, so you will need to purchase the whole kit.

We recommend and supply weighted hose for in the water, so it sits on the floor of your dam, and you don’t have spaghetti-like strands floating on the surface of your water. If you use unweighted hose, the likelihood is it will cost you more purchasing materials to weigh the hose down, plus it always moves and floats again over time. This will drive you crazy.

Typically, within 23m because the windmill kit comes with 30m of non-weighted hose and the typical windmill tower is 7m tall. This distance can be increased by installing a remote setup.

Yes, you can because there is no power in the water. The powered compressor is placed on the shore and only air is being pumped through the hoses to the air stations.

A windmill aerator works in much the same way as other sub-surface aeration systems, except that the power comes from the wind rather than mains electricity or solar panels.

As the windmill turns, it mechanically drives a compressor. The compressor sends air through a weighted hose along the bottom of the dam, where it is released through diffusers as columns of small bubbles.

As those bubbles rise, they draw deeper water towards the surface, creating circulation and helping transfer oxygen into the water.

The result is a completely off-grid sub-surface aeration system powered directly by the wind.

Windmill aerators are particularly well suited to rural and off-grid properties where mains electricity isn't readily available.

The main requirement is consistent wind exposure. An open property with good prevailing winds is much better suited than a sheltered site surrounded by buildings, trees or other obstacles.

Wind-powered aeration can be particularly attractive for remote dams because there is no mains power connection and no ongoing electricity consumption.

The trade-off is that aeration output depends on the wind. During extended periods of calm weather, the aeration system will produce less air.

Sizing isn't simply a matter of making the windmill taller or choosing a larger tower.

For smaller dams, a 6-metre windmill with a single air diffuser can be appropriate. As the waterbody gets larger, additional diffusers can be used to distribute aeration across the dam.

The number and positioning of the diffusers are particularly important. A diffuser's location, the depth of the water and the shape of the dam all affect how well the water is circulated.

As a general guide, the OWS Windmill Aerator is designed for waterbodies up to around 2 acres, with different configurations available depending on the application. For larger or more complex dams, we'd assess the waterbody before recommending the number and placement of air stations.

The OWS windmill can operate in relatively light winds, so you don't need gale-force conditions.

Wind speeds of around 5–8 km/h can be enough to get the system operating, although the amount of air produced will increase as wind speed increases.

This distinction is important: a windmill can operate in light winds, but it won't produce the same amount of aeration in a light breeze as it will in stronger, consistent winds.

For dams that require a high and consistent level of aeration regardless of weather conditions, solar or mains-powered aeration may be a better option.

Not directly. The height of the windmill mainly affects its ability to access unobstructed wind. It isn't a simple case of a taller windmill being capable of aerating a proportionally larger dam.

For aeration coverage, the number, depth and placement of the diffusers are much more important.

The OWS standard tower is around 6 metres high, with other installation configurations possible depending on the site. The surrounding landscape should also be considered when deciding where and how high to install the windmill.

Ideally, position the windmill in an open area with good exposure to the prevailing wind.

Try to avoid locations where trees, buildings, hills or other structures block or disturb the airflow.

The windmill doesn't necessarily need to sit directly beside the dam. In some situations, positioning it in the windiest suitable location and running an air hose to the dam can produce a better result than placing it immediately beside the water.

The location of the diffusers within the dam is a separate consideration and should be based on the dam's shape, depth and required coverage.

This is one of the most important things to consider before choosing a windmill aerator.

A windmill aerator is wind-powered, so its output naturally varies with the available wind. During periods of calm weather, there will be less aeration.

If your property regularly experiences long periods of very little wind, we may recommend looking at solar or mains-powered sub-surface aeration instead.

If the site has good, consistent wind exposure, however, a windmill can be an excellent way to aerate a remote dam without connecting it to the electricity grid.

Yes. We offer installation for customers close to Melbourne and also travel for larger project work. If we're unable to install in your area, we may be able to refer you to a local installer from our network of contacts around Australia. We can also provide guidance for customers who prefer to install the system themselves.

Yes. The best location for the windmill isn't necessarily the best location for the aeration diffusers. If the dam itself is sheltered but there is a more exposed location nearby with better wind, the windmill can potentially be positioned there and connected to the dam with air hose.

The distance, hose requirements and elevation changes need to be considered when designing the system.

Yes. The OWS Windmill Aerator is a sub-surface system, so the diffusers are positioned on the bottom of the dam.

In general, deeper diffuser placement is advantageous because the rising bubbles travel further through the water column, creating greater mixing and surface agitation. We recommend the OWS for depths up to approximately 9 metres.

However, the actual depth and shape of your dam should be considered when selecting and positioning the system.

Yes. Aeration and Biostim can complement each other because they address different parts of the water-quality problem.

The windmill provides circulation and oxygenation, while Biostim supports aerobic biological activity using bacterial cultures, enzymes and nutrients.

For a dam affected by organic sludge, nutrient loading, odour or recurring algae, we may recommend using aeration and biological treatment together rather than relying on either one in isolation.

Yes. The OWS Windmill Aerator doesn't need mains electricity or solar panels. The windmill mechanically powers the compressor, which supplies air to the diffusers.

That makes it particularly useful for remote rural dams where running electricity to the waterbody would be difficult or expensive.

The important consideration is whether the site has enough consistent wind to provide the level of aeration the dam requires.