Clean-Water FAQ
Comprehensive question bank for clients, stakeholders, and cynics.
Comprehensive question bank for clients, stakeholders, and cynics.
A floating aerator is a surface-floating mechanical device engineered to increase dissolved oxygen in a water body.
Our systems use high-velocity water jets and air–water interaction to transfer atmospheric oxygen into the water. By increasing Dissolved Oxygen (DO) levels, they transform stagnant, oxygen-poor water into a healthier, moving aerobic system.
Higher oxygen availability supports aerobic biological activity, creates better conditions for aquatic life, helps break down organic pollutants, and can contribute to the reduction of BOD and COD as part of an overall water treatment programme.
We provide different types of aeration systems, with subsurface jet aerators being our preferred solution for most water body rejuvenation projects. These systems can be powered through the electrical grid or by solar power.
We generally do not recommend fountains for water bodies that depend primarily on seasonal rainfall, because fountains can increase evaporative water loss. Fountains may be considered where there is a continuous inflow of water
Both systems can introduce oxygen into water, but they work differently.
A classic decorative fountain pumps low volumes of water at high pressure to create a tall, narrow, artistic spray pattern. Its primary purpose is visual.
A floating aerator works at lower pressure but moves much higher volumes of water, casting a heavy shower of large droplets over a wide radius. It is specifically engineered for oxygen transfer and circulation.
Fountains can provide aesthetic value, but dedicated aeration systems are generally more appropriate when the primary objective is dissolved oxygen improvement and water body rejuvenation. Fountains can also increase evaporative water loss, particularly in water bodies that rely mainly on seasonal
rainfall.
Our standard floating aerators are currently available in 1 HP, 2 HP, and 3 HP configurations. These can be supplied in grid-powered or solar-powered versions, depending on the product and project requirements.
For larger water bodies or where greater aeration capacity is required, we generally prefer to increase the number of aerators rather than continuously increasing the power rating of individual units. The final configuration depends on the specific requirements of the water body.
The Lotus Floating Solar Aerator is an eco-friendly floating aeration system designed by Clean-Water that combines heavy-duty aeration with community aesthetics.
It is a large, custom-built floating structure that resembles a blooming lotus flower, weighing roughly 1,300 to 1,500 kg. It combines a high-capacity (typically 3 HP) underwater aerator with an onboard floating solar panel system of approximately 6.5 kW.
The solar panels provide the electricity required to operate the aerator, reducing dependence on grid electricity and eliminating the need for long exposed electrical cables running into the water body. The design also serves as a visual feature, making it suitable for public parks, urban lakes, residential
developments, and other locations where appearance matters.
The aerator itself operates during daylight hours, when the solar panels are generating electricity. The system is generally operated for approximately 4 to 6 hours per day, depending on the project configuration and available solar energy.
The onboard battery system is primarily intended to store energy for the lighting component. Solar-powered LED illumination kits light up the structure at night, enhancing the night-time ambience of public parks, urban lakes, and waterfront properties.
Our aeration systems are designed to operate automatically. Timers installed in the electrical control panel can automatically control when the aerators switch on and off.
The system can also be switched to manual mode, allowing the operator to run the aerators whenever required.
We offer both grid-powered and solar-powered aeration systems.
Solar-powered systems can operate independently of the electrical grid, eliminating recurring grid electricity costs and reducing the need for electrical cables running into the water body. This can also reduce concerns around cable theft at remote sites.
We generally recommend solar-powered aeration where site conditions are suitable. The appropriate solar configuration depends on the aerator capacity, operating hours, available sunlight, and site conditions.
The selection depends on several factors:
Solar-powered systems generally have a significantly higher upfront cost than equivalent grid-powered systems, because they require solar panels, mounting structures, batteries or energy-management systems, and associated electrical components.
The choice between grid and solar should therefore be made by comparing the initial CAPEX, expected operating costs, electricity availability, site security, and long-term project requirements.
The number of aerators is determined based on the size and condition of the water body, existing dissolved oxygen (DO) levels, pollution load, and the quantity and quality of incoming pollutants.
Our objective is generally to maintain dissolved oxygen at around 5 mg/L, which provides a suitable environment for aquatic life and supports the activity of aerobic micro-organisms.
As a general starting point, we may recommend approximately one 2 HP aerator per acre, but this is not a fixed rule. The actual number can be increased or adjusted based on site-specific conditions and the required aeration capacity.
Our current aerator range does not include fine-bubble or nano-bubble diffusion systems. We also do not currently offer conventional agitators as our primary aeration solution for natural water bodies.
Our systems are designed to efficiently transfer atmospheric oxygen into the water. The actual oxygentransfer performance depends on the specific aerator model and site conditions, so the appropriate performance specifications should be evaluated for the selected system.
Water stratification occurs when a water body develops distinct layers with different temperatures and oxygen levels. During hot weather, warmer water remains near the surface while deeper water becomes colder, stagnant, and oxygen-depleted.
Floating aerators induce continuous vertical and horizontal mixing, minimising thermal stratification and distributing oxygen more evenly throughout the water column. This helps reduce stagnant and oxygendepleted zones.
Aeration increases dissolved oxygen and reduces the anaerobic conditions that produce foul odours.
By improving oxygen availability, aeration supports aerobic biological processes and helps reduce the formation and accumulation of odour-causing compounds associated with anaerobic decomposition, including hydrogen sulphide and other reduced compounds.
Aeration works particularly well for odour management when combined with beneficial microbial cultures, which biologically break down the organic matter responsible for the odour.
Aerators can support conditions that are less favourable to harmful algal blooms, but they are not the primary treatment for removing the nutrients responsible for excessive algae growth.
Beneficial microbial cultures and Floating Treatment Wetlands play a more direct role by helping reduce organic matter and excess nutrients in the water. As the nutrient load is reduced, the conditions that support excessive algal growth become less favourable.
For persistent algal blooms, we therefore recommend addressing the underlying nutrient and pollution sources rather than relying on aeration alone.
Under normal operation, floating aerators are not expected to cause a significant increase in evaporation compared with the natural evaporation rate of the water body. They are designed to maximise oxygenation close to the surface using larger droplets rather than fine mist.
Fountains are different. Because fountains continuously throw water high into the air, some water is lost as fine droplets or mist rather than returning to the water body. This can increase water loss, particularly in hot and dry climates.
For lakes that depend primarily on seasonal rainfall, we therefore generally recommend aeration systems rather than large decorative fountains.
Yes. The aerators are designed for use in water bodies and, when correctly selected, installed, and operated, are intended to be safe for fish and other aquatic life.
By improving dissolved oxygen levels, they help prevent the sudden fish kills that affect stagnant urban and rural lakes during seasonal shifts.
Yes. Floating aerators and beneficial microbial cultures are compatible and can be used together.
Aeration improves the effectiveness of microbial treatment by increasing dissolved oxygen and supporting aerobic microbial activity, keeping the bacterial consortium active so it can digest organic bottom muck and sludge more rapidly.
This is a legitimate concern, particularly in water bodies with deep layers of accumulated sludge or highly anaerobic bottom sediments.
Our aeration systems are operated to improve dissolved oxygen without intentionally disturbing the bottom sediments. However, when the water level becomes very low, the risk of disturbing bottom sludge increases. Aerators should therefore be switched off when the water depth becomes too low.
If a water body contains a significant accumulation of toxic or anaerobic sludge, we recommend dewatering and desilting the water body and removing the accumulated sludge before restarting the complete rejuvenation system.
There is currently no specific scientific evidence available to us demonstrating that the normal operation of our aerators disrupts fish breeding cycles.
Our aeration systems are designed to improve dissolved oxygen levels, which is important for maintaining a healthy aquatic environment. We have not observed our aerators causing disruption to fish breeding or aquatic life under normal operating conditions.
Grid-powered systems depend on the availability and stability of grid electricity. To protect the motors from electrical fluctuations, our control panels include overload protection. If an abnormal voltage or overload condition occurs, the protection system trips and helps prevent damage to the motor. Once the electrical supply stabilises, the protection can be reset and the aerators can resume operation.
Solar-powered systems also require routine maintenance. Dust, bird droppings, and other debris can reduce the efficiency of solar panels, so the panels need to be inspected and cleaned periodically by the site maintenance team.
No. Floating aerators are not designed to remove clay, sand, or mineral sediment from water. Their primary function is to improve dissolved oxygen and water circulation, and they address organic turbidity by facilitating biological digestion and gas exchange.
If the water contains high levels of suspended clay or sediment because of land runoff, a separate physical treatment such as sedimentation, filtration, coagulation, or structural silt traps may be required.
Our floating aeration systems can be used across a wide variety of freshwater applications, including:
The appropriate aerator type and configuration should be selected based on the specific water quality, depth, pollution load, and operating conditions.