ESTUARINE WATER SYSTEMS 

 AT SOLOMONS, MARYLAND 



By David G. Cargo 



Natural Resources Institute of the University of Maryland, Solomons, Md. 



Abstfact. — The novel features of two salt-water systems at Solomons, Md., are dis- 

 cussed. Details of the straight-through rising-pipe supply system, progressing cavity 

 pumps, constant-head trough distribution system, and tank arrangements are included. 

 Drawings of these and other associated details are set forth along with a brief evalua- 

 tion of the two systems and the maintenance schedule employed. A list of sources of 

 equipment is included. 



The sea-water systems at the Chesa- 

 peake Biological Laboratory might be 

 more aptly termed estuarine-water sys- 

 tems. At this laboratory, approximately 

 halfway between ocean and fresh water, 

 the problems and advantages of each situ- 

 ation are present in addition to circum- 

 stances peculiar to a brackish-water 

 environment. Long-term average values 

 of daily salinity show a seasonal range 

 from 9.9 to 16.9 parts per thousand. Sim- 

 ilar temperature values range from 2.7° 

 to 27.8° C. 



Our primary aim is to provide an estu- 

 arine habitat of limited scope which can 

 be observed and, to some extent, controlled 

 so that laboratory experiments can be 

 performed on a continuous basis. While 

 bringing this habitat into the laboratory, 

 every effort was made to avoid changing 

 the chemical or physical character of the 

 water. We envisioned such facilities for 

 use in live storage or holding of experi- 

 mental animals, in hatching and raising 

 marine organisms, in studying ecological 

 responses of various organisms to con- 

 trolled and varying conditions, and in 



Contribution No. 205 of the Natural Resources 

 Institute of the University of Maryland, Solo- 

 mons, Md. 



short-term educational display. Our suc- 

 cess in providing systems capable of an- 

 swering all of these needs and aims is yet 

 to be determined. 



The sea-water systems in current use at 

 Solomons are of recent origin. Since ex- 

 perienced professional advice was un- 

 available to us, much of our design 

 embodies ideas and suggestions contribu- 

 uted by scientists at this and at other simi- 

 lar marine laboratories. There are two 

 complete and separate sea-water systems. 

 The first system has been in use about 3 

 years and is installed at a research stor- 

 age buildmg and, although simple, is 

 proving an extremely useful and reliable 

 arrangement. This system will be re- 

 ferred to as the "wharf system." The sec- 

 ond more recent and much more sophisti- 

 cated system is located at the main re- 

 search building and has been in operation 

 for about a year and a half. It is still too 

 early to provide an overall evaluation of 

 its potentialities. 



There are several features embodied in 

 both of these systems which may be of in- 

 terest. These contribute in various ways 

 to make the system work better. In some 

 cases, a simplification resulted; in others, 

 the modifications made the system more 



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