Case Study
Silt control with Bubble Curtain in London
Construction, Infrastructure & DevelopmentClient
MWH Treatment on behalf of Thames Water
Location
New River, East London
Objective
Essential bank stabilisation works
Challenge
Pollution risks associated installing several hundred meters of steel sheet piles
The challenge
Essential bank stabilisation works on the New River in East London required the installation of several hundred metres of steel sheet piles as part of a vital maintenance programme.
This created a significant challenge in preventing silt pollution from travelling downstream. The project was critical to protect a key drinking water abstraction.
In-channel works such as dredging and bank stabilisation stirs up silt, leading directly to the suspension of sediments within the water column.
This can cause silt pollution downstream, directly impacting wildlife & habitat as well as being detrimental to water abstractions.
The solution
We were delighted to help them specify four lines of Bubble Tubing®, powered by a single, silenced compressor to create a bubble barrier that prevented the movement of silt downstream.
The river banks were too weak to support heavy, land-based plant so a floating piling rig was used to drive the new piles from the water.
The project had to be undertaken quickly and efficiently to minimise the risk of over-running and the potential to disturb roosting bats.
The bubble barrier was the ideal pollution control tool as it could be re-positioned quickly and easily to remain in front of the piling line and control the fine suspended particles generated from the activity.
As part of the bubble curtain package an oil free, silenced, electric compressor was supplied to provide compressed air to the bubble barrier, with no disturbance to local residents or risk to the environment.
The bubble barrier also aerated the water column, an added benefit that reduced the risk of low oxygen levels, often associated with muddy water impacting on the fish populations.
Excellent aerator
Increased dissolved oxygen levels reduce the risk of fish kills or harm to other aquatic life when construction is taking place in their environment.
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 results
Stops 90% of silt movement
Independent research undertaken by SEACAMS has shown Bubble Tubing® can control 90% of silt particles down to 63 microns.
Stops fine clayey silt from polluting waterways
This New River project demonstrates that smaller silt particles associated with London clay can be controlled in a low flow environment.
The products
Silt & Debris Bubble Barriers
- Controls sediment plumes, preventing silt and debris spreading in water
- Protects habitats by shielding sensitive aquatic life and ecosystems
- Creates a flexible silt control barrier that is designed to adapt to varying water depths
- Quick to deploy and remove without inhibiting navigation
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
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
Water Injection Dredging Bubble Curtains
- Enhances dredging efficiency by keeping fine sediments suspended and improving water injection flow
- Reduces resettling by preventing silt from quickly settling back onto the bed
- Cuts operational costs by minimising repeat dredging and optimising equipment use
- Non-intrusive,flexible and safe to use, making it easy to deploy in busy harbour environments
Case Studies
Real solutions, proven results
Knowledge Hub
Sharing good practice
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![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.
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![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.
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![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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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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Developing an underwater shock suppression system to mitigate underwater blast effects on marine life
Research findings evaluating the performance of the bubble screens at Roach Cove, an underwater demolition training area.
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![case-study-gallery-5]()
Noise reduction by an air bubble curtain in offshore pile driving
In this paper, a model is proposed for the investigation of the sound reduction during marine piling when an air-bubble curtain is placed around the pile.
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![Bubble-curtains-reduce-the-movement-of-silt-downstream-800x600.jpg]()
Bubble Curtains can be used to inhibit carp
This research covers findings of field testing of a bubble curtain deterrent system for common carp.
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