Environmental agencies reject nanobubble technology trial touted as possible solution to Torrens Lake algal bloom

Nano technology could fix the horrible algae bloom that pops up in Torrens Lake – but state environmental agencies are blocking a trial.

An Adelaide council is pushing to trial innovative nanobubble technology to combat blue-green algae outbreaks in the Torrens Lake but the state’s key environmental agencies have blocked the proposal amid skepticism around the technology.

Cyanobacterial algal blooms, commonly known as blue-green algae blooms, are currently managed by flushing the organisms from the lake downstream and into the ocean at West Beach but Charles Sturt Council said it was time to seek new solutions.

“All it’s doing is flushing the toxins and rubbish from Torrens Lake down the Torrens River and out into the marine environment and on to our beaches,” said general manager of city operations Adrian Ralph.

“It’s something that our community and council are growing tired of.”

Council wants to trial technology from local company SA2050 that uses nanobubbles injected with oxygen and ozone to treat the problem.

SA 2050 believes its nanobubble technology could be the solution to algae blooms in the Torrens Lake.

A six-month trial costing around $300,000 would involve deploying eight nanobubble generator units to various spots across the lake.

The proposal has been met with opposition from key environmental agencies including Green Adelaide, SA Water and SA’s Environment Protection Authority (EPA), who form part of the Torrens Lake Cyanobacterial Advisory Committee, established for management of algal blooms in the lake.

“On face value, this sounds like previous proposals claiming to solve the cyanobacteria problem at significant cost and no published evidence,” EPA’s Clive Jenkins said in correspondence with council, comparing the proposal to an earlier hydrogen peroxide trial that was unsuccessful in the Torrens.

The EPA further cited concerns around the technology’s potential impact on fish and other life in the lake.

SA2050 chief executive Michael Schaefer said the claims were spurious and “completely unjustified”.

“There might be some good bacteria affected but it bounces back very quickly and creates a much better environment for all creatures in the water,” he said.

The company’s technology has successfully treated blue-green algae at Lake Albert in Wagga Wagga and excess algae at Jubilee Lake in Tea Tree Gully and has also been effective in other countries like the US.

“The council there (Wagga Wagga) has referred a number of other councils to us to clean up their lakes,” Mr Schaefer said.

Jubilee Lake after treatment from Hydro2050. Picture: Supplied

Jubilee Lake before treatment from Hydro2050. Picture: Supplied

Mr Ralph said every natural environment was different and while there was no guarantee the technology would work at the Torrens “without trialling new technologies we’ll never move forward”.

The lake hasn’t had a recent outbreak but council said it was only a matter of time before it occurs.

While council is also member of the Torrens Lake Cyanobacterial Advisory Committee, the lake is not in its jurisdiction, which means council is unable to undertake the trial on its own. Mr Ralph said council now planned to write to the Environment Minister to help get the agencies on board with a trial – a move elected members backed at Monday’s council meeting.

Originally published as Environmental agencies reject nanobubble technology trial touted as possible solution to Torrens Lake algal bloom