In the world of environmental technology, Greenwater Services has been making waves with its innovative nanobubble water treatment system. However, the company’s recent projects have yielded mixed results, raising questions about the effectiveness and transparency of this emerging technology.
The nanobubble technology involves injecting tiny bubbles of ozone into water to purify it. While this method has shown promise in controlled environments like wastewater treatment plants, its application in natural water bodies is still being explored.
Success in the Tijuana River
Last year, Greenwater Services secured a $2.5 million no-bid contract to experiment with nanobubble treatment in the Tijuana River which is heavily polluted by sewage and industrial runoff from Mexico. The river flows into San Diego posing significant environmental and health concerns.
In an interview in March, Greenwater executives reported that their experiment eliminated 91.5 percent of potentially contaminating bacteria. Chas Antinone, Jr, the company’s chief operating officer, explained the process: “When these ozone bubbles burst, the ozone will attack the biology, whether it’s algae or toxins.”
Despite the promising results, the experiment faced challenges. An storm swept away their equipment trailers, effectively ending the experiment. Additionally, activists expressed concerns about the lack of transparency and potential air quality impacts due to chemicals in the river.
Struggles in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
Earlier this spring, Greenwater Services won another $1.7 million no-bid contract to install a water purification system in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the National Mall. However, the project has come under scrutiny after algal blooms turned the pool a vibrant shade of green.
The National Park Service had planned to upgrade the system with technology that could kill algae using tiny bubbles of ozone gas. However, the reflecting pool was refilled before Greenwater Services could install a permanent water purification system, increasing the risk of algae clouding the water.
Greenwater Services spokesman Dave McKibben declined to comment on the reflecting pool situation or the disparity in results between the two projects.
Future Prospects and Controversies
Despite the setbacks, Greenwater Services remains optimistic about the future of its nanobubble technology. Al George, the company’s CEO, mentioned ongoing research with Ohio State University and discussions with the state of Florida to reduce nutrient levels in Lake Okeechobee and potentially the Everglades.
“We’re seeking more business“, said George. “All the research that’s been done shows it’s very effective at treating hazardous algae blooms and bacteria.”
The company’s ultimate owner is an investment trust owned by John J. Cafaro a donor to Trump and a neighbor to Mar-a-Lago. Cafaro’s family business was in developing shopping centers, but he later moved into other industries like aerospace. He pleaded guilty in 2001 to conspiracy to bribe Ohio Democratic Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. and later testified against him.
As Greenwater Services continues to pursue new opportunities, the contrasting outcomes of its projects serve as a reminder of the complexities and challenges inherent in innovative environmental technologies.
