Off-grid Solar Well Pumping Station
Problem statement
Since 2017, we converted a shallow wildlife pond to raise endangered fishes and expand their distribution that had declined over the years. A reliable supply of groundwater is needed but periodic unexplained well pump breakdowns threaten the project. The conservation aquaculture pond, first in Wisconsin, is located about 10 miles southwest of Mt. Horeb. The site is a grassland/oak savanna bird conservancy, “Big Hill Savanna”, where three UW Madison grassland bird research projects had been conducted. The groundwater contains relatively low nitrate nitrogen concentrations and high alkalinity, favorable water quality for rare fish production. Periodic off-grid solar well system malfunctions threatens goals of the project.
Team members
Hunter Berryman – leader
Connor Adam Kohm – communicator
Ben Lane – accountant
Guanlin Xin – admin
Client
Dave Marshall