Ensuring cold water intake – Salmon farm, Tervo, northern Finland
The Challenge
Summers are getting hotter in Finland (and all over the world), leading to all kinds of climate-related challenges. For a salmon farm in Tervo, central Finland, the salmon are starting to die as pond water temperatures exceed 27°C, which fish do not like. The near 200,000 kg annual fish growth is decreasing as a result of this warming.
To preserve salmon life, colder water needs to be moved efficiently to the warming ponds. One idea for making this a reality to build a 950-1000 meter pipe, but from what material? Many options were considered – plastic and aluminium, for example.
The Solution
Installation of the aluminium solution was done in two days. Pipes were connected on shore and pushed out to float. The second day was used to steer the line into place by boat and then to sink the line to Nilakka Lake.
Aluminium pipes were produced with a seal in the fold to make them more watertight.
Technical specifications
Corrugated aluminium, 18mm profile, 2mm thickness
Welded aluminium flanges with stainless steel bolts
Seals between flanges
Pump on shoreline pumping colder water to ponds.
The ViaCon Advantage
In addition to being a significantly cheaper option than plastic, aluminium pipes do not corrode in Finnish lakes, so it is a lasting, durable solution. Bolts were stainless steel. ViaCon Finland tested aluminium pipes for bending at the factory so the contractor could be sure about its capability for bending during installation.
With this solution fish farms can use outdoor ponds instead of indoor pools. They do not need to manufacture big halls to house large pools to farm the fish. Smaller indoor pools can produce the fry, and they are moved to outdoor ponds to grow.
The salmon farm has successfully used the water intake solution for two summers to reduce pond water temperature. And because wintertime brings a risk of the ponds freezing, the water is used also to prevent ice forming.
