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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.

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Bubble Curtains & Barriers Pollution Avoidance & Mitigation Working in Water

Working in Water

For contractors, working in and around rivers, lakes, harbours, and reservoirs is one of the most challenging environments in construction. Water is dynamic, fast-moving, and unforgiving – small disturbances can quickly escalate into major incidents. Whether it’s silt, debris, oil spills, or noise pollution from pile driving, the risks are immediate and the impacts on habitats and regulatory compliance are significant.

Working in Water is our approach to help contractors not just work in water, but to work with it – by providing bubble barrier technology, silt control methods, and erosion control solutions that manage risk effectively while protecting sensitive ecosystems.

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Why pollution control in water is so complex

Working in aquatic environments creates challenges that land-based projects rarely face:

Close coupling of source and receptor: water environments, there is often little distance or time to react. A small release of silt or oil can quickly reach sensitive areas or abstraction points. .
Constant flow and turbulence: Moving water accelerates the spread of pollutants, making containment and control much harder compared to land-based sites.
Regulatory and environmental scrutiny: agencies monitor projects closely, and pollution incidents can lead to heavy fines, work stoppages, or reputational damage.
Variable conditions: Changing water levels, weather, and currents require solutions that can adapt without constant manual intervention. Our range of bubble curtain construction systems and silt control products provide reliable protection without the need for intervention.

Working together on pollution control

At Frog Environmental, we understand that working in and around water is complex, and that effective pollution control is about process, planning, and partnership rather than quick fixes.

By engaging early, we work closely with contractors and designers to develop structured, cost-effective strategies that evolve with the project. This approach helps to ensure legal compliance, minimise environmental risks, and avoid costly delays or regulatory interventions that can arise from pollution incidents.

Our role is to look at the project holistically, assessing each stage to anticipate potential water quality risks and implementing solutions that are proportionate, adaptable, and practical. Whether the challenge is managing silt in a fast-flowing river, containing debris or water pollution oil spills in a harbour, or improving water clarity for treatment, we focus on selecting and combining the most suitable methods for the site.

Working in Water: Smarter Solutions for Contractors

Through this collaborative approach, we help our customers to achieve:

Efficient, long-term pollution control measures that adapt as conditions change.
Clear and predictable compliance with environmental regulations.
Reduced operational risk by mitigating the potential for incidents that disrupt progress.

By working with our customers from the outset, we aim to support safe, compliant, and successful project delivery while protecting the surrounding environment.

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Supporting construction companies Working in Water

We’ve developed a suite of products designed specifically for aquatic environments:

Bubble barrier technology

Silt and debris control: recommended for temporary works or long-term asset protection. Silt Bubble curtains prevent silt and debris being carried in the water channel and re-deposited as sediment, which can cause negative environmental impacts downstream, resulting in silt pollution.
Sound Attenuation Bubble Curtains: manage underwater noise and vibration control from piling, dredging, and construction activities, protecting marine and freshwater species without blocking navigation.
Aeration Bubble Curtains: fine microbubbles restore dissolved oxygen rapidly, providing effective aeration treatment of water in lakes, reservoirs, and emergency situations. These bubble aeration systems are modular, lightweight, and low maintenance.
Abstraction & Asset Protection Curtains: prevent clogging of pumps and screens by keeping silt, weed, and debris away from intakes.
Water Injection Dredging Curtains: keep sediments suspended to improve dredging efficiency, reducing re-settling and repeat operations.

As trusted bubble curtain suppliers, we provide flexible systems that can be adapted for bubble curtain design projects across rivers, ports, and industrial sites. Discover our range of Working in Water products to find the correct solution for your project.

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Silt & erosion control solutions

Silt Mats™: capture fine particles while allowing water to pass, supporting eco-sensitive construction practices.
Silt Wattles: easy-to-deploy filters that slow water flow, trap solids, and create low-flow areas away from main channels.

These silt control methods are designed to adapt to fast-flowing environments while minimising disruption to aquatic life. We have a comprehensive range of Silt Control products for Working in Water that can be combined to create effective site-specific solutions.

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Benefits of a process-driven approach

By working with contractors from the earliest stages, we help projects achieve:

Efficient long-term solutions – long-term, adaptable solutions that evolve as site conditions change.
Clear compliance – guidance with environmental regulations and best practice standards to avoid costly fines.
Reduced delays – lowering the chance of environmental incidents that can disrupt progress.
Sustainable outcomes – our team provides end-to-end support, from strategy design to on-site deployment, ensuring that pollution control that doesn’t just tick a box but actively enables the project’s success.

“The Bubble Curtain has been a gamechanger for our rivers network and has become an internal success story. Thanks to the specialist support given by Frog Environmental’s Technical Team in design and planning, we got it right the first time.”

Brett Holmes, Site Agent
BAM Nuttall

“The results (of the bubble curtain) were quite dramatic – in fact, startling… we have a workable solution that we’ve proved has a dramatic impact on noise propagation.”

David McLaren, Site Manager – Marine & Civils
John F Hunt Regeneration

Innovative solutions I’d not considered before.

Jacobs

We are grateful to you, and the Frog Community Fund, for making the bubble curtain available to us. I think it will be a very useful tool for us to have access to and be able to deploy in future at project sites where controlling silt is an important element of the mitigation works.

Helen Jobson, Senior Executive Officer
West Wales Rivers Trust

Helping you work with water, not against it

For contractors, the challenge of Working in Water is inevitable. But with innovative technologies and solutions, the risks can be managed effectively.

We help companies deliver projects that meet regulatory standards, protect ecosystems, and stay on budget. Our solutions ensure you’re working with water in the smartest possible way. Contact us to discuss your requirements and we’ll create a solution that’s tailor-made for your project.