What is MicroChange?
MicroChange is dedicated to providing innovative solutions for tackling water contamination.
Through continuous R&D, we create modular product components, combining in-house engineering expertise with trusted partnerships.
We work with both seawater and freshwater, utilizing methods such as mechanical filtration and adsorption.
These methods can be enhanced with technical and chemical adaptations tailored to specific cases.
As a partner of Phoslock Environmental Technologies (PET)
we offer the patented well tested Phoslock® solution.
This technology removes excess phosphates from water, addressing eutrophication and restoring natural conditions for life in water bodies.
Learn more about Phoslock.
Our solutions are designed to be cost-effective, environmentally neutral, and compliant with regulations and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Our team brings experience from a wide range of disciplines, withing management and leadership, sustainability, innovation and science.
- We participate in research projects with universities generating innovation and synergies in line with our vision of bringing modular, flexible and efficient solutions to our clients.
- We are closely collaborating with partners and relevant stakeholders within utility companies, acedemia, engineering and manufactoring.
- We are targeting business cases ranging from freshwater lake restoration, wetlands maintenance, waste water treatment, agricultural and horticulture discharges etc.
Freshwater Challenges
Healthy ecosystems are essential for maintaining the water cycle, but decades of pollution and resource overuse have pushed ecosystems to the brink.
Surface water, in lakes, wetlands and rivers, is particularly vulnerable.
Limited water flow and human activities, including waste and agriculture, cause excess nutrients to accumulate, leading to eutrophication.
Eutrophication triggers unchecked algae growth, blocking sunlight from reaching aquatic plants.
When algae die, their decomposition depletes oxygen levels, creating conditions where other species cannot survive.
This imbalance often causes the entire ecosystem to collapse.
The only effective solution is to remove the excess nutrients directly from contamination hotspots.
Our approach
Phosphorus binding is not “one size fits all”. Performance depends on the local chemistry and biology of each site, as well as practical considerations such as topographic layout and flow, challenges that require experience to meet.
Peer‑reviewed studies from Danish lakes show that factors such as alkalinity, pH, and dissolved organic matter can influence how quickly and how completely phosphorus is captured, which is why we always start with diagnostics and site‑specific design.
Our typical workflow:
- Diagnose: baseline sampling and data review (water column + sediment).
- Design: dosing strategy and application plan tailored to your lake’s chemistry and hydrodynamics.
- Apply: controlled field deployment with quality checks and documentation.
- Verify: post-treatment monitoring for phosphorus, clarity, algae risk indicators, and ecological response
- Maintain: follow‑up actions if needed (hotspot re‑treatment, upstream measures, or monitoring optimisation).
Why Choose Phoslock?
Effective Phosphate Removal
Phoslock utilizes lanthanum-modified bentonite clay to permanently bind excess phosphorus in the water column and sediment. This chemical bond is stable under a wide range of environmental conditions, preventing the release of phosphorus back into the water.
Environmentally Friendly
Developed by the CSIRO, Phoslock is composed of natural materials. When applied according to our precise protocols, it poses no risk to aquatic life or human health, making it a safe choice for recreational lakes and reservoirs.
Environmental certifications: https://www.phoslock.eu/environmental-approvals.
Long-Term Solution
Unlike temporary treatments, Phoslock addresses the root cause of eutrophication. By locking away phosphorus in the sediment, it provides lasting improvements to water quality, significantly reducing the frequency of future interventions.
Versatile Application
Our modular application methods allow for the treatment of diverse water bodies, from small ornamental ponds to large recreational lakes and river systems.
Cost-Effective Management
By providing a durable solution to nutrient loading, Phoslock reduces the need for continuous chemical treatments and maintenance labor, lowering the overall lifecycle cost of water management.
How Phoslock Works
Phoslock works through the process of adsorption.
- When applied to the water, the lanthanum ions within the clay matrix attract and bind with phosphate molecules.
- This reaction forms Rhabdophane, a stable and insoluble mineral. As the Phoslock settles, it forms a permeable layer on the sediment surface, intercepting phosphorus released from the sediment and stripping phosphorus from the water column.
- This dual action effectively limits algae of their primary food source, and if correctly dosed reducing growth and allowing a natural balance of life to return to the water body.
Applications & Success
Phoslock has been successfully deployed in hundreds of water bodies globally to combat cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and improve water clarity.
- Recreational Lakes: Restoring safety for swimming and boating by eliminating toxic algal blooms.
- Drinking Water Reservoirs: Reducing the costs and complexity of water treatment processes.
- Urban Ponds: Improving aesthetics and preventing odors in community spaces.
The Negative Impacts of Eutrophication
The introduction of excess nutrients initiates a series of detrimental changes within the aquatic ecosystem
1. Algal Blooms
The surplus of nitrogen and phosphorus acts as a fertilizer for algae and cyanobacteria, leading to their explosive growth.
This rapid proliferation results in dense surface accumulations known as algal blooms.
These blooms can turn the water green, blue-green, or red, making it turbid and aesthetically unappealing.
Certain species of cyanobacteria can also produce toxins (cyanotoxins) that are harmful to fish, birds, mammals, and humans, posing a direct risk to public health and recreational activities.
2. Oxygen Depletion (Hypoxia and Anoxia)
While the algae in the bloom produce oxygen through photosynthesis during the day, their massive biomass creates a severe problem when they die and sink to the bottom.
Decomposing bacteria consume the dead organic matter, and this decomposition process consumes large amounts of dissolved oxygen from the water.
This leads to a state of low oxygen, known as hypoxia.
In severe cases, all available oxygen is used up, creating an anoxic environment.
These "dead zones" are incapable of supporting most forms of aerobic aquatic life.
3. Harm to Aquatic Life
Oxygen depletion has a direct and devastating effect on fish, shellfish, and other aquatic organisms.
Mobile species like fish may be able to flee hypoxic zones, but slow-moving or stationary organisms like clams and worms will perish.
Widespread fish kills are a common consequence of severe eutrophication events.
The reduction in water clarity from algal blooms also prevents sunlight from reaching submerged aquatic plants, causing them to die off and eliminating critical habitat for juvenile fish and other species.
4. Loss of Biodiversity
Over time, eutrophication fundamentally alters the structure of the ecosystem.
Species tolerant of low oxygen and high nutrient levels may thrive, while more sensitive, and often more desirable, species disappear.
This leads to a significant reduction in overall biodiversity, disrupting the food web and diminishing the ecological resilience of the water body.
The result is a simplified, degraded ecosystem dominated by a few hardy species.
Causes of Eutrophication
The primary driver of eutrophication is nutrient pollution from human activities. The two principal nutrients involved are nitrogen and phosphorus. These elements enter water bodies from various sources, overwhelming the ecosystem's natural capacity to process them.
- Agricultural Runoff: The widespread use of nitrogen- and phosphorus-based fertilizers in modern agriculture is a major contributor. When it rains, excess fertilizers that are not absorbed by crops wash off the land and flow into nearby streams, rivers, and lakes. Runoff from livestock manure, which is also rich in nutrients, further exacerbates the problem.
- Wastewater and Urban Runoff: Municipal and industrial wastewater treatment facilities can discharge treated effluent that still contains elevated levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. In addition, stormwater runoff from urban and suburban areas carries pollutants, including lawn fertilizers, pet waste, and detergents, into the water system.
- Atmospheric Deposition: The combustion of fossil fuels releases nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere. These compounds can travel long distances before being deposited onto land and water surfaces, contributing to nutrient loading.
