Aquatic Restoration and Microbiological Water Management
Stop Internal Loading and Eutrophication
Eden Aquatech collaborates with Sjuntorp Oljelänsor and Microbe Biosolutions ApS within the framework of the Clean Water Alliance. Through this Nordic partnership, we combine our expertise to solve complex challenges in aquatic environments.
Why do so many aquatic environments have poor water quality?
The issues of eutrophication and oxygen depletion are rarely isolated. They are typically the result of a disrupted balance between nutrient loading, sediment chemistry, and microbial activity. Traditional methods such as dredging or chemical precipitation often only address the symptoms. Natural Balance Restoration focuses instead on restoring the underlying biological processes without the use of harmful chemicals.
Why Does Traditional Dredging Fail? A Critical Risk Analysis
Dredging is often considered the default solution for sediment accumulation, but for complex aquatic environments—including marine and freshwater systems—the method entails significant risks:
- Resuspension of Pollutants: Mechanical disturbance releases bound heavy metals and environmental toxins from the sediments into the water column.
- Short-term Symptom Treatment: Dredging removes the sediment but fails to address the underlying nutrient dynamics.
- Ecological Disruption: The process eradicates the natural benthic communities essential for the ecosystem's self-purification capacity.
6 Steps to Cleaner Water and Healthy Ecosystems
PRE-ANALYSIS & TREATMENT PLAN
Understanding the issue:A cause-based analysis of loading, sediment, and ecology reveals why the lake is in poor condition and identifies the most effective measures.
FLOW CONTROL
Creating control in the water:Flow control limits the spread of particles and nutrients. Simultaneously, treatment zones can be defined for targeted restoration efforts.
BIOREACTOR
Building biological purification:Biosurfaces and bioreactors create large surface areas where microorganisms can establish themselves and form biofilms that degrade organic matter.
MICROBES
Restoring the microbiology:Selected microorganisms enhance the lake's biological purification processes and help stabilize decomposition in both water and sediment.
OXYGENATION
Securing the oxygen balance:Oxygenation stabilizes water chemistry, reduces phosphorus leakage from sediments, and creates the necessary conditions for effective biological degradation.
PROCESS VALIDATION
Following up on results:Continuous analysis of water quality and ecology ensures that the restoration leads to a stable and long-term healthy ecosystem.
A common misconception is that biological restoration requires treating a lake's entire water volume to be effective. For larger bodies of water, this is rarely the most rational approach. Instead, we work according to the principle of strategic point treatment, where powerful measures are implemented where they provide the greatest benefit: at the lake's inlets and loading points.
Inlet Treatment – Stopping Nutrient Leakage at the Source
To achieve long-term stability in large systems, the Clean Water Alliance focuses on reducing the input of nitrogen and organic matter before it reaches the open water body. By establishing a biological “engine” at the inlet, we create an active barrier that continuously reduces the nutrient load.
Technical Solutions:
Zoning with Flow Control: Using Sjuntorp baffles (screens), we create a controlled treatment zone at the inlet. This forces the water through our biological process before it disperses into the lake.
Microbial Nitrogen Reduction: Utilizing BioS-3 and HolKof™ bioreactors at inlet points, we effectively lower the levels of ammonium and nitrate directly in the inflow.
Management of Accumulated Phosphorus: In large water bodies where sediments are already saturated with phosphorus, we employ an integrated strategy. While our microbiology stabilizes the inflow and breaks down new organic matter, strategic precipitation (e.g., using aluminum salts) can be applied to extensive sediment areas to bind existing phosphorus. This combination ensures that the aquatic system does not “relapse” into internal loading once the chemical effect diminishes.
Strategic Point Treatment: Scalability through Source Remediation
For larger aquatic systems, focusing efforts where the nutrient loading is highest is often the most rational approach. By establishing a "biological barrier" at the main inflows, the water is continuously purified before dispersing into the larger water body.
Inflow Filtration with BioS:
By treating incoming water flows, the input of nitrogen and organic matter (BOD) is reduced at the source. This prevents new nutrients from accumulating in the deeper zones of the water body.
Hybrid Method for Phosphorus:
In combination with microbiology at the inflows, strategic precipitation can be used to bind existing phosphorus on extensive sediment surfaces. This creates a two-stage barrier against eutrophication.
Projects: Aquatic Environments
Nynäshamn – From Foul Odors to a Fresh Oasis
Svandammen in Nynäshamn suffered from acute oxygen depletion, resulting in turbid water, algal blooms, and a strong odor of hydrogen sulfide spreading throughout the neighborhood. The situation was critical for both the local living environment and wildlife.
The Solution: To save the pond, two aerators from Eden Aquatech were installed. By effectively oxygenating the water mass, the anaerobic process was disrupted, the odor vanished, and the water regained its clarity.
– Monica Stålborg Billberg, resident of Nynäshamn
Acute Intervention: When the Balance Fails
Rapid Intervention Prevented Fish Kill in Stockholm
When winter brings thick ice and heavy snow cover, oxygen depletion can severely impact aquatic ecosystems. During February, the City of Lidingö faced acute oxygen deficiency, creating a high risk of massive fish kills.
The Solution: Rapid deployment of the airTURBO RV2 – an aerator specifically developed for the Nordic climate. By quickly breaking the ice and re-oxygenating the water masses, we were able to stabilize the situation before the ecosystem collapsed.