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Clear Water Systems Limited has placed an order for HydroSurv’s specialized uncrewed vessel to support a technology development project aimed at mitigating harmful blue-green algae in freshwater ecosystems.
The pilot project is funded under a Small Business Research Initiative for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). It focuses on addressing the increasing prevalence of cyanobacterial blooms in Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland’s largest inland lake, where these blooms threaten aquatic life and local water quality.
To address these harmful algal blooms (HABs), Clear Water Systems is developing the SlipStream processor, a novel in-line water treatment system. This technology is designed for the targeted, mobile disruption of algae and toxin reduction directly in situ. The project aims to evaluate treatment approaches for HAB scums to explore the potential for lowering algal concentrations.
To facilitate large-scale deployment and testing in sensitive freshwater environments, the project requires a zero-emission platform. HydroSurv is providing its REAV-35 Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) to host the specialist environmental payloads. The 3.5-meter electric vessel is equipped with a 24kWh battery-electric powertrain and twin 5kW steerable pod drives, providing quiet operation and high maneuverability.
David Hull, Founder & CEO of HydroSurv, said, “We’re delighted to be supporting Clear Water Systems in their SBRI project for DAERA, tackling the vital challenge of harmful algal bloom mitigation. Like Clear Water, HydroSurv is founded on principles of environmental stewardship and responsible innovation, so this collaboration feels like a natural fit.
“The SlipStream processor represents a groundbreaking approach to cleaner, healthier ecosystems – we’re proud that our Rapid Environmental Assessment Vessel can provide a proven platform to help bring this important technology to the field.”
The REAV-35 platform is already established in the UK for water quality applications and environmental monitoring. For this specific initiative, the autonomous vessel allows for the evaluation of the SlipStream processor in real-world conditions while maintaining environmental sensitivity.
Richard Boyd, Managing Director of Clear Water Systems Limited, stated, ”Harmful algal blooms represent a growing challenge for freshwater ecosystems, and addressing them requires careful testing of new, mobile approaches in real-world conditions. Working with HydroSurv gives us access to an industry-leading USV platform, backed by proven operational experience in offshore and challenging environments, which supports the scale and complexity of the challenge at Lough Neagh.
“Their professionalism and sector experience allow us to deploy and evaluate our SlipStream processor using a reliable, zero-emission vessel, while maintaining a strong focus on environmental sensitivity and robust field trials. This collaboration is an important step in building the evidence base needed to inform future freshwater management solutions.”
The initiative represents a shift toward using autonomous technology and cross-sector collaboration to enhance climate resilience and ecological restoration in freshwater management.
