Keeping the water clear of plastic waste and problem plants like duckweed is a constant and expensive challenge, until we came along with our Bubble Tubing® technology.
Client
Management company for basin
Location
Merchant Square, London
Objective
Keeping canals and basins clean
Challenge
Controlling duck weed and preventing pollution
The challenge
Excessive duck weed is a common problem in canals.
Merchant Square, London, is an 11 acre, fully managed mixed use estate in London’s West End that is currently occupied by nearly 10,000 workers and residents.
Providing a central feature of the lively mix of bars, restaurants and businesses in Paddington Basin, the basin is a short branch of the Regent’s Canal.
The solution
Bubble Curtain reduces pollution
We were approached by the management company of a London basin to help prevent duck weed travelling into their waterspace.
A Bubble Curtain has been used to great effect to hold back and control duck weed and pollution, whilst also improving the water quality in this 11 acre site.
Bubble Tubing® is a flexible linear aerator that sits on the bed and produces millions of micro-bubbles that rise all the way to the surface. These bubble curtains prevent weeds and litter from moving from the canal into the basin, whilst allowing the free movement of boats at all times. The aeration from the bubbles helps to improve water quality.
Excellent aerator
Dual purpose technology means it is an effective aerator whilst supressing invasive weeds and holding back litter.
Doesn’t impede navigation
Bubble Tubing® creates bubble curtains across the width of the canal. These prevent litter and duckweed moving from the canal into the basin, whilst allowing the free movement of boats and wildlife at all times. This adds to the amenity value of this high profile development.
Dual purpose technology
Bubble Curtains & Barriers have wide application ranging from underwater noise control to silt management, abstraction protection, inlet protection, litter and weed prevention and emergency aeration. They can be scaled to suit the length of the works being undertaken.
The products
Litter & Weed Control Bubble Curtains
- Creates a dynamic barrier with rising bubbles blocking and redirecting floating debris
- Non-intrusive solution that allows fish passage and does not harm aquatic life
- Does not hinder navigation so vessels can cross without obstruction
- Low-maintenance & scalable and can be easily adapted for rivers, harbours, or industrial sites
Aeration Bubble Curtains
- Lightweight, modular design allows quick setup in urgent situations
- Fine microbubbles restore dissolved oxygen levels fast, stabilising water quality
- No submerged moving parts means low risk of mechanical failure and minimal maintenance under pressure
- Bubble aeration systems can be adapted to various water bodies or emergency site conditions
Sound Attenuation Bubble Curtains
- Underwater noise and vibration control, mitigating sound from piling, dredging, and construction activities
- Protects fresh water & marine life, minimising acoustic disturbance to sensitive species
- Does not block navigation, allowing vessels to pass freely
- Flexible deployment that easily adapts to varying depths and project needs
- Process driven and design led solution
Case Studies
Real solutions, proven results
Knowledge Hub
Sharing good practice
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![Bubble barrier technology helps construction companies when working in water]()
Working in Water
Working in water can be challenging for constructors but Frog Environmental’s bubble barrier technology and silt products are designed to make projects run smoothly.
Read Article -
![Site-photo-no-branding.png?w=768&h=576&scale]()
Why it pays to be Rain Ready
Discover how being Rain Ready® can help construction companies manage water quality more effectively
Read Article -
![Bubble-curtains-reduce-the-movement-of-silt-downstream-800x600.jpg]()
Bubble Curtains and how they prevent silt
Bubble Tubing® is proven effective in stopping up to 90% of sediment dispersal.
Read Article -
![Silt-bubble-barrier-and-SiltMats-protecting-river-SSSI-Yearl-Weir.png]()
Micro bubble curtains study: impact on sediment dispersal
This study outlines findings of using Bubble Curtains for effective sediment control.
Read Article -
![training-example-3]()
Influencing river morphodynamics with bubble screens
The reported laboratory experiments demonstrate the potential of the bubble-screen technique to modify the morphology in a variety of applications in shallow rivers and open channels.
Read Article -
![Silt-bubble-barrier-and-SiltMats-protecting-river-SSSI-Yearl-Weir.png]()
Influencing bend morphodynamics with an air bubble screen
These preliminary experiments show the potential of a bubble screen to influence and modify the bed morphology.
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![Silt-control-using-SiltMats-and-Bubble-barrier-Yearl-Weir-800x600.jpg-1]()
Reduction of bend scour with an air-bubble screen
These preliminary experiments show the potential of a bubble screen to influence and modify the bed morphology.
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![Bubble-curtains-reduce-the-movement-of-silt-downstream-800x600.jpg]()
Influencing flow patterns and bed morphology with an air bubble screen
The ability of a bubble screen to redistribute the flow field and bed morphology in shallow rivers and open channels has been investigated in laboratory experiments.
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![Curtain-Blasting-Marinette-Credit-BubbleTubingR]()
Mitigating underwater explosion effects with bubble curtains
Mitigation of shocks and noises is made possible by the use of a bubble curtain set around the explosive charge.
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