Ask an Expert: Denise Answers Your Pressing Lake Questions

Celebrating Lakes Appreciation Month & Welcoming Our Newest Team Member, Dr. Denise Devotta

We are excited to announce that Dr. Denise Devotta, an accomplished limnologist, has joined Moleaer's Surface Water team as a Surface Water Application Development Engineer. With strong technical expertise in aquatic ecology and over 15 years of experience applying this expertise to managing water quality in freshwater and coastal ecosystems worldwide, Denise brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team. This also positions her perfectly to lead the development and implementation of cutting-edge nanobubble technology solutions in aquatic systems for Moleaer in its applications all over the globe. Denise's expertise and dedication will be instrumental in advancing Moleaer's mission to enhance and sustain aquatic ecosystems through innovative and effective technologies.

To delve deeper into her insights and the fascinating world of surface water management this Lakes Appreciation Month, we are excited to present a special "Ask an Expert" Q&A. Denise answers some of the most common and pressing questions about waterbody health, as well as the transformative potential of nanobubble technology.

Ask an Expert: Lakes Q&A with dr. devotta

Q1. Tell us about your background and how you became interested in limnology.

A1. I grew up in Singapore where freshwater is a national security issue. Also, my parents are from Sri Lanka, so we often traveled there to visit family. I witnessed how much harder it was (and still is) for people to access clean water in Sri Lanka vs. Singapore, and how that made life very difficult for them. So, from a young age, I was acutely aware of how important freshwater is to life, and a country’s security and economy.

Q2. What are some of the most significant changes or advancements you’ve seen in limnology over the course of your career?

A2. The biggest advancement I’ve witnessed is the use of big data (e.g. remotely sensed data, high-frequency sensors, etc.) and the application of modeling, and more recently, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to make sense of and derive predictions from these data.

Q3. How do you determine the health of a surface waterbody?

A3. I would do this in three ways:

1) A quick visual check involves looking at water clarity, color, and what organisms may be in the water column or floating on the water surface. A smell check for any odors is also useful. Additionally, a visual inspection of what is going on in the surrounding watershed that drains into the water body is key to understanding why the water body is in the state it is.

2) On top of these visual clues, measuring the Secchi depth of the water body and important water quality parameters (such as pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorus levels, chlorophyll-a, etc.) from the water column is of critical importance in determining the health of a surface waterbody.

3) Testing sediment quality parameters. This provides valuable information on what is going on in lake bottom sediments, which are often a major source of internal nutrient loading.

While grab samples of water and/or sediment provide a lot of crucial information about what is happening in the water body, they are only able to provide a snapshot of the state of the water body in time. Sensors help overcome this, by capturing high-frequency water quality data (i.e. every 10 or 15 minutes). More data can provide better insight into the health of a surface water body, and how that changes with time.

Q4. What are the most common problems affecting surface water bodies?

A4. Nutrient loading from internal and external sources, warming temperatures as a result of climate change, water abstraction for use in agriculture, industries, etc. and invasive species that negatively impact native biodiversity in an aquatic ecosystem.

Q5. What are the benefits of using nanobubble technology in lakes and ponds?

A5. Nanobubble technology offers numerous benefits for lake and pond management:

• Oxygenates the Entire Water Column & Sediment: Ensures oxygen reaches the lake bottom, where sediments are a source of internal nutrient loading.
• Reduces Internal Nutrient Loading: Reverses oxygen-depleted conditions, immobilizing phosphorus and curtailing nitrogen release, which reduces nutrient levels and algae growth.
• Increases ORP: Enhances the lake's resilience to pollution and muck accumulation, improving its ability to break down contaminants and organic matter.
• Improves Fish Habitat and Growth: Aerobic conditions at the lake bottom support muck digestion and sediment hardness, enhancing fish foraging and spawning success. Increased dissolved oxygen levels in lakes also enhance fish growth.
• Mitigates Algae & Harmful Algae: Starves algae of nutrients and oxidizes algae toxins, preventing harmful algal blooms (HABs) and reducing fish mortality.
• Reduces Foul Odors: Decreases the production of gases like H₂S and methane by reversing anaerobic conditions.
• Addresses Taste and Odor Issues: Lowers concentrations of Geosmin and MIB by reducing nutrient levels and increasing volatilization and oxidation rates of these compounds, mitigating taste and odor issues.

Q6. How does nanobubble technology help with algae and/or harmful algae control?

A6. Nanobubble technology effectively controls algae and harmful algal blooms (HABs) by delivering oxygen throughout the water column, particularly to the lake bottom where nutrient-rich sediments reside. This oxygenation reverses anaerobic conditions, immobilizing phosphorus and reducing nitrogen release, which are key nutrients that fuel algae growth. By lowering these nutrient levels, nanobubbles starve existing algae and prevent future blooms. Additionally, nanobubbles increase the lake's oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), enhancing its capacity to break down organic matter and oxidize harmful algae toxins. This not only mitigates current algae issues but also reduces the risk of HABs reoccurring, ultimately leading to safer, clearer, and healthier water bodies.

Q7. What does Lakes Appreciation Month mean to you?

A7. One statistic that continues to blow my mind is that only about 0.3% of all water on earth is freshwater in lakes, rivers, and wetlands. So much of our human existence depends on this small quantity of water, and even of this 0.3%, only a fraction of it can be classified as “good” or “safe” water quality. We have degraded the majority of what keeps us alive and sustains our way of life. To me, Lakes Appreciation Month highlights how vitally important lakes are and the credit they deserve for sustaining our existence on this planet.

What is Lakes Appreciation Month?

July is celebrated as Lakes Appreciation Month, a time dedicated to recognizing the vital role that lakes play in our environment and our lives. These precious water bodies provide essential habitats for wildlife, recreational opportunities for communities, and crucial resources for clean drinking water. During this month, individuals and organizations come together to promote awareness about the importance of protecting and preserving lakes. Activities range from educational events and clean-up campaigns to citizen science projects and policy advocacy, all aimed at ensuring the health and sustainability of our lakes for future generations. At Moleaer, we are proud to support these efforts, and we are committed to advancing innovative solutions, such as nanobubble technology, to enhance and sustain lake ecosystems.

Want to learn more about how nanobubble technology can help naturally restore aquatic ecosystems? Visit our lakes and ponds blog page.