New technology being used to prevent blue-green algae in Lake Okeechobee

New technology is working to prevent thick, blue-green gunk from growing in our vital water. The system is up and running to treat dangerous algae blooms.

A machine called a nanobubble generator is working in Pahokee Marina at Lake Okeechobee Thursday. It’s being used to help prevent another water crisis.

The machine releases tiny oxygen bubbles into Lake Okeechobee to reduce and prevent blue-green algae. The bubbles are so small they can’t be seen.

The question is does this cutting-edge technology actually work.

“We’ve been invited to partner with Florida Gulf Coast University to install and test our nanobubble generators here in Pahokee Marina,” said Eli Kersh, the director of Surface Water Treatment for Moleaer.

Moleaer is the company behind the nanobubble generator. Kersh is confident the technology will work against blue-green algae.

“A nanobubble generator is a device that takes water and air and creates microscopic bubbles,” Kersh said.

Those bubbles increase oxygen in the water to make water more resilient to algal blooms. A nanobubble generator is relatively new to the world of science. Kersh’s company partnered with FGCU’s The Water School.

“We’re turning on these nanobubble generators for the first time, so will get some samples before,” FGCU professor Barry Rosen said.

Rosen said we won’t see any effects because this is a long-term thing.

“The nanobubbles will spread throughout the basin, and we’ll see if they have an effect or not,” Rosen said.

Rosen and Kersh can’t say the nanobubble generators will make a big difference.

“The best outcome we could hope for I think would be complete reduction of algae of course, but I think we will be happy with understanding, learning more about the impact,” Kersh said.

FGCU students will monitor the progress of the bubble generator, and they will report back if and when there’s a noticeable difference in the blue-green algae levels.