Building a Solar Fountain: Solving the Problem of Stagnant Water and Mosquitoes

The Mosquito Problem and a Broken Pump

On a day when the sun was intermittent, Larry Ashwell welcomed the long-lost sunshine. Before that, the sun had not been seen for many consecutive days. When he and Killian were playing on the playground, they were bitten by mosquitoes, which surprised Larry. After all, it was already the second week of November. The local temperature was still around 70°F (about 21°C).

Such warm weather made Larry start to worry about the stagnant water in a small bucket at home. The water in the bucket is used to keep a small device running, but now it may become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. After careful observation, he found that the water pump he was using was damaged. It was also difficult to keep the internal leather components properly moist. The water pump was previously taken to the bathtub by the children to play. Although it brought joy to the children, Larry felt that, from a functional perspective, it was better suited as a fountain. As a result, he recently removed the core components of the water pump.

Creating a Solar Fountain with Poposoap

Although it brought joy to the children, Larry felt that, from a functional perspective, it was better suited as a fountain. As a result, he recently removed the core components of the water pump. This water pump is powerful and has excellent water output. He first found a piece of scrap wood and carefully drilled a hole in it. When he passed the solar water pump through the hole in the wood, a powerful stream of water gushed out, which was quite spectacular. At that moment, the sun suddenly became extremely dazzling. This caused some inconvenience during the operation. However, Larry did not stop his work.

Positioning and Adjusting the Water Pump

Next, he needed to place the water pump in the right position. He planned to aim the pump’s water outlet in a specific direction. This way, the water flow could form an ideal fountain effect. While adjusting the position, he noticed that the pump’s water pipe was slightly bent. This bend affected the smooth flow of water. He carefully straightened the pipe so the water could flow smoothly into the pond.

Securing the Water Pipe and Adding a Natural Touch

To fix the water pipe of the water pump, Larry found a few bricks and a small stone. He first temporarily placed the bricks next to the water pipe to play a preliminary support role. Then, he placed a small stone on the water pipe. Although the stone is small, it is enough to fix the thin water pipe firmly. After the water pipe was fixed, Larry slightly moved a plant next to it. This small move brought an unexpected effect. When the water flowed through, it made a pleasant gurgling sound. This sound added a sense of agility and vitality to the whole environment.

Mosquito Control and Final Touches

Larry was not worried about whether mosquitoes would breed in the pond. It turned out that there were several small goldfish in the pond. These small goldfish were very diligent. They would actively prey on mosquito larvae in the water, effectively controlling the breeding of mosquitoes. Larry felt that only a few minor adjustments were needed for the fountain device. These changes would make it more stable and visually appealing. After that, the solar fountain could be put into use perfectly. He was very satisfied with the current results. Compared with the watering can used before, the gurgling sound produced by this new fountain device was more pleasant.

The Fountain's Color

The fountain was originally painted black, but later Larry painted it blue. He was also very concerned about the color change. At the end of the article, he asked the audience what they thought about the color of the fountain.