How Nanobubbles Help Manage Aquatic Pollution in Dams
It’s common for dams to face pollution problems such as nutrient build-up from farms or too much algae and sediment. Bodies of water with these issues look unsightly but risk marine life and human health.
To help rid dams of pollution, nanobubbles can be introduced to purify the water and break down harmful particles without toxic chemicals.
It’s important to know what’s causing aquatic pollution in your dam and how best to manage it. By harnessing the latest nanobubble technology, you can turn contaminated water into healthy water where aquatic ecosystems thrive.
What Causes Aquatic Pollution in Dams?
If aquatic pollution isn’t treated in time, serious consequences include oxygen depletion and environmental destruction. Depending on the surrounding environment, aquatic pollution can be caused by various things.
Organic Matter
Organic sediment, known as muck, is one of the main contributors to aquatic pollution. It is an accumulation of decomposing algae and plants that suck up all the oxygen, leaving aquatic life deficient.
Current methods for removing muck include physically removing it from the water body. However, this approach has multiple issues. Plants and marine life are disturbed, which is not ideal for large dams due to the large equipment and expenses required.
Industrial Wastewater
Power plants and factories release toxic chemicals into nearby water bodies. Industrial wastes like this harm dams and Earth’s oceans by poisoning aquatic ecosystems and stimulating the growth of harmful algae.
Plastic Waste
Wildlife can choke on or ingest improperly discarded plastic litter, but if it is not removed in time, it will break down into microplastics. You may think this improves the situation, but it only causes more problems as smaller organisms ingest them and spread toxins to others in the food chain.
Furthermore, microplastics act like sponges, absorbing dangerous pollutants that remain in aquatic environments for hundreds of years. This is a long-term health risk to both wildlife and human health.
Oil Spills
Oil pollution caused by accidental or illegal dumping creates a layer on the water surface that blocks it from getting to aquatic ecosystems underneath. Additionally, drinking water contaminated with oil is very dangerous to humans and wildlife.
Sewage
Poorly maintained subsurface sewage disposal systems, such as septic tanks, are a major source of water pollution in dams, rivers, and other bodies of water.
Domestic sewage commonly contains active bacteria and viruses that contaminate water. Modern sewage treatment plants dispersed near dams help manage wastewater but must be properly maintained.
What is a Nanobubble?
Nanobubbles are tiny gas-filled bubbles with surprising properties. They are an exciting technology that is changing the game in the environmental engineering industry. Despite being about 2500 times smaller than a grain of salt, nanobubbles are robust compared to other bubbles and can remain intact for months.
Their small size and production method mean their internal and external pressure doesn’t drive them to the surface. As small oxygen-filled bubbles come into contact with pollutants, organic matter, etc., they release a lot of oxygen.
This oxygen level surpasses that of other aeration systems and doesn’t require toxic substances.
How Nanobubbles Manage Aquatic Pollution in Dams
Common issues like nutrient build-up and muck negatively impact water quality and require immediate, long-term action to get under control. Nanobubbles cover both of these needs and prove incredibly effective at treating dams in particular.
Oxygenates Deep Water Layers
Dead zones, i.e. hypoxic zones, mean the area has little to no oxygen. This is a concern regarding dams, where algal blooms can further impact water quality.
Typical aeration systems struggle to reach deeper parts of dams where oxygen is needed most. Nanobubbles, however, effortlessly travel to these areas and collapse, providing oxygen to help aquatic environments.
Breaks Down Organic Matter
Nanobubbles encourage the growth of aerobic bacteria, which break down organic material like muck. The more oxygen nanobubbles are released, the faster the decomposition of organic wastes, which might otherwise release gases and defeat natural decay processes.
Separates Water Contaminants
Nanobubbles have a negative surface charge, which attracts particles with positive or neutral charges. Due to the drop in bubble density, nanobubbles then take harmful algae and pollutants to the surface.
The result of this process is a layer of scum, easy to remove with filtration or skimming methods. Underneath, the water clarity is greatly improved without the requirement for expensive, time-consuming equipment or harsh chemicals.
Benefits of Using Nanobubbles for Aquatic Pollution
Nanobubbles show many strengths when compared to traditional water treatment methods like chemical treatments or mechanical aeration.
- Chemical-Free: One of the biggest advantages is that nanobubbles efficiently oxygenate and purify deep water layers without chemicals. Substances may help purify water, but the plant and animal life is harmed in the process.
- Energy-Efficient: Nanobubbles require less energy to do a better job at maintaining high levels of dissolved oxygen. Though minor in the grand scheme of things, using less energy for water treatment combats climate change and thus helps prevent thermal pollution.
- Cost-Effective: Water treatment typically involves intense labour and toxic chemicals. Nanobubbles on the other hand make removal processes easier and cheaper as they bring contaminants to the surface.
- Long-Lasting: Nanobubbles remain suspended for months in dams, meaning they can break down water pollutants for extended periods. In large bodies of water, this is particularly beneficial over other treatment systems where continuous intervention is essential.