Tiny bubbles, big impact

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/05/2025 (215 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Killarney Lake Action Committee (KLAC) will be launching a new pilot program this month using cutting edge technology in the form of a nanobubble unit to be installed in the bay area of the lake, east of the bridge next to the Ag grounds.

The purpose of the pilot project is to further help mitigate algal blooms that can tend to happen in mid-summer, often in August and September. Of course, every summertime bloom is different depending on many factors including healthy rainfall amounts or lack of precipitation, the number and the length of heat waves, cooler nighttime temperatures and wind. Even the amount of recreational activity plays a part in the quality of the lake water.

The nanobubble system will work in tandem with the current micro-bubbler aeration field, which was installed in 2017 and has 62 micro-bubblers affixed to ten lines fanned out from the Water Treatment Plant.

The KLAC has been delving into various options that could work in conjunction with the current aeration system, including ultra sonic technology. Research still has yet to determine the effects of ultra sonic on underwater plants and animals, including fish fry.

The committee opted for the nanobubble technology, which is much the same as the lake’s current aeration system, except this unit is emitting the tiniest bubbles, nanobubbles, that have unique properties and can sustain for over three months in water, working to ionize impurities over their entire lifespan.

Project lead Shane Warnez has been involved in the research, communication and development of the pilot project together with SWAT Water Technology out of Calgary. Together with fellow committee members, Kelvin McMullen and Rick Korman, the details have been worked out, funding has been approved, and the plan is set in motion.

“We went through a long investigation into the various technologies over the course of the last year and what we found was that this nanobubble technology was the most environmentally friendly, and quite cost-effective,” Warnez said. “So, then we looked at various suppliers that provided this technology.

“In terms of aeration technology, this is a fairly new technology compared to traditional aeration methods, like the aeration field system that has already been deployed in Killarney Lake. And we have seen that our current system has certainly improved the water quality in the lake, and it will continue to operate. But we felt we could improve the water quality of the lake even more and so we’ve been researching different systems and strategies to do exactly that.”

“Nanobubble technology produces very, very small bubbles that are very high in oxygen content,” continued Warnez, “and in fact the bubbles are so small that they are what’s called ‘buoyancy neutral’. We extract water and send it through this machine and then back into the lake and all these very small, almost microscopic bubbles won’t rise to the surface. They’re actually going to float through the lake and move around so that we’ve got high oxygen content at the top, at the bottom and in the middle.”

“Why that’s especially important is that the more oxygen that we have in the lake, especially at the bottom, it makes a big difference to the health of the lake,” he adds. “Specifically, what it does is get the natural processes going in the lake to digest the muck at the bottom and also reduces the amount of phosphorus that the lake bottom, or sediment, will release into the lake.”

A nanobubble, or ultrafine bubble, is a bubble that measures less than 150 nanometers in size, which is >500 times smaller than the diameter of a single human hair.

Here’s the Science:

Due to their extremely small size, utilizing nanobubbles to clean water and transfer a gas to a liquid (i.e. increasing oxygen content) is very effective. Unlike micro or macro bubbles, which rise to the surface and dissipate, nanobubbles are buoyancy neutral, thus remain in a water body, filling the entire column of water top to bottom.

When nanobubbles come into contact with bacteria or other forms of contamination in water, they become unstable and implode, releasing a powerful hydroxyl radical which naturally oxidizes and kills bacteria.

Phosphorus is the nutrient for the cyano-bacteria blue-green algae blooms. If the release of the phosphorus at the lake bottom can be reduced, then the blue-green algae food source will be diminished, thus curbing a bloom from taking place.

“So, this is a pretty big step for us. We’re doing the pilot in the bay to start and we’re pretty excited to see the results,” Warnez said.

Details of the pilot project:

As this is the first nanobubble system to be used on a lake in Manitoba as a pilot project, SWAT Water Tech has agreed to supply the necessary equipment for a six-month trial basis. The unit, which is the size of a floor model dehumidifier will be installed on May 27 on the shore of the bay behind the Heritage Home for the Arts, with lines running into and out of the lake from that unit. The unit will be in a containment unit to minimize any noise or outside interference with the weather or vandalism.

“What we want to do is to test the technology in the bay and if it works the next step would be to deploy it in the main part of the lake,” Warnez said. “Because the greater part of the lake is a much bigger waterbody, we’d need to install a number of larger units to be able to make a difference to treat the amount of water we need to treat the full lake.”

When disturbing any body of water oftentimes conditions can get worse before they improve, and so it is with nanobubble technology. However, the Killarney Lake Committee has been assured that the public will see positive change within about a month of installation.

Something to note is if residents and visitors see foamy areas washing up against the shoreline this is not ‘soapy’ water that has been dumped into the lake. This in fact is a sign that our aeration system, and soon the nanobubble system, is breaking down the phosphorus accumulation at the bottom of the lake. The aeration systems are doing their jobs when you see what looks like soapy foam.

A collaborative effort within and outside of the community:

Committee members have been working together with stakeholders in the community, including seeking permission from the municipal council to install the nanobubble system at that location. Upon that approval, the committee approached the Killarney Foundation for financial support for close to $8,000 for water testing and other input costs. The Killarney Ag Society has graciously agreed to pay for hydro costs for this pilot project over the next 6 months.

“We saw a great opportunity to pilot this project in partnership with SWAT Water Technologies out of Calgary. SWAT generously provided the equipment at no cost for six months. The town approved the pilot, and we also received support from the Agricultural Society, which is covering the power costs—estimated at around $1,200 to $1,300 for the six-month period,” Warnez said. “And then the Killarney Foundation joined us contributing just under $8,000 to support installation and water testing throughout the pilot. So, yes this has truly been a collaborative effort—from research and approvals to funding. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed.

“But I want to specifically note that this project couldn’t have been done without the generous support of the Killarney Foundation. And so we want to thank them for their support!”

Benefits are multi-faceted if nanobubble technology works.

The members of the KLAC have been inspired by the community coming together to help launch this pilot.

“If it proves successful—and we’re hopeful it will—it could bring significant benefits to the town and municipality. It could lead to broader deployment across the lake, boosting economic development, attracting new residents, and enhancing recreational opportunities for everyone,” adds Warnez. “We’re very excited about the potential.”

“So, on May 27 these guys are coming from Calgary and they’ll put the system in, turn it on and we’re going to see what happens over the next six months,” Warnez said. “From what we hear, the water in the bay will actually get a little worse in terms of water quality to start. So, we can actually see when it’s starting to do its work within the first few weeks. We expect that there might be a fair amount of foam developing as a result of the bacteria going to work more aggressively in the bottom of the lake. So that’s actually a good thing.”

“But if you look at it aesthetically, it might not look as good. It might actually look a little bit more cloudy, a little more foam. It won’t be to the point where we want it to be. That’ll take further time. So, as we move through summer, we expect that we will see considerable water clarity with much reduced algae. But again, this is to be proven in real time in the bay. So, we’ll know if it actually works or not.”

“Another important point to mention is the credibility of the company we’re working with,” shared committee chair, Betty Sawatzky. “They have extensive experience with a wide range of projects around the world — from soccer fields in Africa to golf courses in Dubai to prairie lakes like ours. This isn’t a trial-and-error approach; they bring proven expertise and a strong track record to the table.”

“So, we feel confident that we’re in good hands, as they’re clearly leading the way on this initiative,” she said. “A key component of the project is the water testing. It’s not just about visual improvements—we’re closely monitoring changes in water quality, including pH levels, phosphate levels, and overall conditions in the bay as the nano-bubble technology operates over the six-month pilot.”

“So, this is exciting, and we also want the public to get involved if they’re kayaking or canoeing in the bay, take a look at the water and see if you notice any changes. Remember, it’s probably going to get worse before it gets better, but by the time the summer heat hits, this system will be in full operation,” Sawatzky added. “We’re all eager to see this technology put to use and how it changes that part of the lake. This is quite exciting. This pilot project is the first of its kind in Manitoba!”

“And if this works,” Warnez said, “we want to make a bit of noise about this. There are various technologies that other jurisdictions are testing that we’ve looked at as well. And so, I think it’s going to be great that we’re the first in the province, and that other people will be learning from us as well. We’ve offered that we would be a reference and do some testimonials if in fact we get the type of success that we’re expecting from this technology.”

On behalf of the Killarney Lake Action Committee, we want to thank everyone who has played a part in the development of this pilot project. The KLAC is eager to watch positive change take place and all data collection to be shared at the end of summer, and then at the completion of the pilot project at the end of November.

— Betty Sawatzky is the chair of the Killarney Lake Action Committee.