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Gas and engineering company BOC, has commenced a NSW-first oxygenation trial with WaterNSW in Menindee, to address dissolved oxygen levels in the Darling River that have contributed to large-scale fish deaths in recent years.
BOC will use patented Linde technology to pump oxygenated water into one section of the river with the aim of boosting dissolved oxygen levels downstream. Early trial data indicated positive changes in downstream dissolved oxygen levels. If successful, the trial will provide scope to expand.
BOC’s oxygenation solutions have successfully oxygenated river systems in Australia to enhance water quality and biodiversity for over two decades, including the Swan and Canning Rivers in Western Australia and the Murray River in South Australia.
BOC UK has also previously provided technology solutions for oxygenation of London’s Thames River in the United Kingdom.
Theo Martin, Head of BOC Australia, said BOC was proud to work with WaterNSW on this NSW-first trial and deploy its innovative Linde SOLVOX ® dropin oxygenation technology to improve biodiversity and water quality along one of Australia’s longest rivers.
“BOC is committed to delivering sustainable solutions for our customers and the community.
“The Darling River is a crucial part of our state’s biodiversity and it’s exciting BOC expertise is helping to boost biodiversity in regional NSW. We are working closely with our communities, including WaterNSW, to ensure this innovative trial delivers significant improvements in oxygen levels at Menindee.
“This, and other similar BOC technology, is successfully oxygenating river systems in the Swan and Canning Rivers in Western Australia and the Murray River in South Australia to improve water quality and biodiversity.”
In recent years, large-scale fish deaths have occurred in the Darling River due to low dissolved oxygen levels caused by weather conditions and changes in local waterways.
Linde SOLVOX® technology is a microbubble oxygenation system that is easy and flexible to use in open and closed aquaculture systems. Oxygen flow rates and operational modes can be controlled remotely, significantly improving the ability to respond to real-time changes in water quality to reduce risk to fish health.
