Bubble Barrier Technology
Abstraction and Asset Protection Bubble Curtains
Using Bubble Curtains to protecting high value intakes, locks, and infrastructure from debris and floating weed.

Power stations, pumping stations, locks and industrial intakes are vulnerable to drifting biomass (aquatic weed, algae), jellyfish blooms, and floating debris.
Bubble Curtains, delivered as a Bubble Tubing® application, form a rising plume of microbubbles that creates an effective surface barrier to mitigate these risks.
Installed upstream of screens and intake mouths, the curtain intercepts and deflects material before it can accumulate, protecting critical assets, maintaining flow and reducing unplanned outages.
The permeable barrier does not inhibit navigation and allows fish passage.
- Designed primarily as permanent installations, our systems are engineered for long service life and low whole-life cost.
- A process-led specification uses site data and CFD modelling to optimise curtain length, depth and airflow, pairing ISO 9001-certified diffuser technology with energy-efficient compressors (including variable-speed, silent and renewable-powered options).
- Self-weighted tubing is simple to deploy and maintain; self-purging and corrosion/UV/salinity-resistant materials keep operating costs low.
- Bubble Tubing® offers proven durability, low compressor demand and a 5-year warranty, safe for aquatic fauna and flora.
- To manage environmental risk during construction or during temporary works see our Silt Bubble Barriers and Sound Attenuation Bubble Curtain pages.
Key Benefits
Bubble Barriers are an efficient way of protecting high value waterspaces
Protects intakes
Reduces biomass and jellyfish ingress at power stations, cooling water intakes, and pumping stations.
Reduces maintenance
Helps keep locks and assets clear of debris, reducing maintenance costs
Flexible deployment
Installed in linear or enclosing layouts to shield assets from floating material
Permanent solution
Durable and re-usable systems suitable for long-term operation
Does not obstruct navigation
Safe for vessels and aquatic life
Every Bubble Curtain is designed around site conditions. Key design considerations include:
Scope of project | Curtain length, water depth, flows, tidal range, bathymetry, and access |
Layout | Geometry (linear, arc, enclosure) |
Weighted options | Anchoring and moorings to suit substrate and flow conditions |
Compressor | We will provide specification including oil-free, energy-optimised units with low noise options |
Maintenance | Self-purging perforations minimise fouling |
Warranty | Supplied with a 5-year manufacturing warranty |
Applications
Working in rivers
Our proven techniques to achieve effective pollution control ensure clients can operate responsibly, compliantly, and with confidence in rivers and water courses.
Find out moreReservoir water quality
Our tried and tested benthic aeration technologies offer cost-effective destratification solutions, improving reservoir efficiency and water quality while reducing lifespan costs and carbon footprint.
Find out moreWater treatment
We work with market-leading technology partners to deliver cost-effective solutions for the treatment of water that also minimises carbon impact.
Find out moreEmergency and reactive aeration
In critical situations where oxygen levels drop rapidly, we offer a responsive, deployable service using proven, market-leading products backed by data and real-world application to quickly deliver dissolved oxygen into impacted water bodies.
Find out more