The WaterBlog

With bubbles

by Frank van Steenbergen Little pockets of air, moving upward in the water: bubbles.  That is a technique that is now used to improve the quality of surface water.  In the Westerdok in Amsterdam an experimental bubble barrier has been in place for almost five years.  The barrier – essentially a perforated pipe venting air -  is placed diagonally across the canal. It produces water bubbles that lift floating mini-bits of plastics in the water  upwards. Across the canal, along the slanted line of bubbles formed by the barrier, the floating dirt is moved  to the side. They are collected in a receptor from which they are removed. An electric compressor – operated with renewable energy and placed in a sounc-proofed container - supplies compressed air for the bubble barrier . The Westerdok bubble system has been successful, removing almost 200,000 particles, adding up to a ton of plastic, a year. It is simplicity at its very best – no… Continued