Otterbine problem solving at The Hurlingham Club

The background

The Hurlingham Club in Fulham, London is a repeat Otterbine customer. With over 286 sprinklers and approximately two kilometres of dripline going around the club’s two-acre lake, it provides the source of irrigation for the whole 42 acres of the estate.

The grounds are an iconic part of the venue so the grounds department is well supported by the Hurlingham club to do whatever they can to improve standards and keep things looking as good as they can.

After upwards of 15 years the lake’s current aerating units were getting old and the water quality began to deteriorate. The club looked to Otterbine when the decision to find a replacement unit was made.

The brief

Tom Clarke, deputy grounds manager was tasked with creating the best quality water possible for the club’s irrigation, while tackling three specific issues: algae, water smells and noise disturbance.

Due to a lack of water circulation algae began to form, a silt layer began to gas off methane causing bad smells at one of the bridges, and one of the aerating units near the club’s sunbathing area had begun to create a noise disturbance.

The results

The project was a very thorough installation with a wide range of Otterbine solutions, providing a complete renovation of the water body.

Otterbine specified the 3hp C2 Sub-Triton aspirator to deal with the bad smell; the 5HP Sunburst aerating fountain to provide well-needed aeration to keep the algae at bay and to complete the line-up the Air Flo 3 underwater diffuser to provide a silent solution for keeping the water clean and clear near the sunbathing area.

Otterbine and Reesink made a fairly complex job very easy. Machines were delivered immediately and great communication was maintained throughout. Simon Powell, from Otterbine’s UK distributor Reesink Hydro-Scapes provided everything needed in terms of the actual weighted tubing, the electric cable and everything else. With the club informing him what they had power-wise onsite, he worked out everything they’d need for a contractor to come in and install the machines.

The conclusion

The club now has a much-admired fountain feature provided by Sunburst which has pleased the estate’s members and committee. The improved water quality has also improved the environment for the ornamental ducks using the lake. The club has both natural ones that come in and ducks you wouldn’t see anywhere else including a couple of black swans that have been a recent addition.

The club is putting a vote out to members to see how it can reinvest to make its services better, and the grounds team would like to add a second and maybe third fountain to set off the whole lake.