Water budgets for freshwater aquaculture ponds with reference to effluent volume

Abstract

This paper presents the consumptive water use for freshwater pond aquaculture for semi-in- tensive carps farming practices. The consump-tive use of water includes evaporation loss, see- page loss and water exchanges requirements. The water requirement has been estimated to be 10.3 m3/Kg of fish production under present study for semi-intensive culture and with sup-plemental feeding. Out of which 7.6 m3/Kg of fish production is system associated requirement. On an average the evaporation loss from the pond is 1498.3 mm/year and seepage loss per year is about 1182.60 mm/year. Seepage and water exchange losses recharge the ground water aquifers and if they are treated and recy- cled, the water use in aquaculture can be re-duced significantly. A further reduction in fresh water use in pond aquaculture is possible through development of intensive and super- intensive culture systems and aqua feeds.