Titusville Tests Nanobubble Tech to Revive Indian River Lagoon

Privately funded project aims to improve water quality and marine life by adding oxygen to the lagoon

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Titusville is partnering with Moleaer Inc. to test a nanobubble machine that generates tiny bubbles to help oxygenate the Indian River Lagoon. The project, funded by private donations, is being monitored by Florida Tech and Brevard County to assess its effectiveness in breaking down organic muck and improving water quality. While experts say this technology may provide short-term benefits, addressing pollution sources like runoff and sewage is crucial for the lagoon's long-term health.

Why it matters

The Indian River Lagoon has faced significant water quality issues due to pollution, leading to the loss of seagrass and marine life. This nanobubble technology represents a potential tool to help revive the lagoon, but it is just one piece of the puzzle. Addressing the root causes of pollution through measures like stormwater management and sewage system upgrades will be essential for the lagoon's long-term recovery.

The details

Titusville's nanobubble machine generates bubbles that are 2,500 times smaller than a grain of salt, allowing them to stay in the water for weeks and help break down organic muck on the lagoon's bottom. The tiny bubbles are designed to oxygenate the water, providing relief for fish and other marine life. Brevard County and Florida Tech are monitoring the project to measure its impact on water quality and marine life, including zooplankton, a key part of the lagoon's food web.

  • The nanobubble pilot project began in Titusville's municipal marina in March 2026.

The players

Moleaer Inc.

A company that developed the nanobubble technology being used in the Titusville project to help improve water quality in the Indian River Lagoon.

Florida Tech

A university partnering with Titusville and Brevard County to monitor the effectiveness of the nanobubble project.

Brevard County Natural Resources

The county agency working with Titusville and Florida Tech to assess the impact of the nanobubble technology on the lagoon's ecosystem, including monitoring zooplankton.

Laurilee Thompson

A local business owner and vice-chair of the Titusville Environmental Commission who contributed private funding to the nanobubble project.

Grant Gilmore

A fisheries ecologist from Vero Beach who emphasizes that addressing pollution sources is crucial for the lagoon's long-term recovery.

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What they’re saying

“What this device is doing is addressing the root cause of the water quality problems in the Indian River Lagoon. This is a small example of treating a 16-acre marina, but we have scalable devices to be able to treat the Indian River Lagoon itself.”

— Chris Stephan, Global director for Moleaer's surface water program (floridatoday.com)

“If the source of the runoff is not eliminated then the pollution will continue. Treatment needs to be installed upstream wherever the freshwater flows can be intercepted before the water enters the lagoon.”

— Grant Gilmore, Fisheries ecologist (floridatoday.com)

“If this technology works, it can be useful all over the state. It's great to see Titusville taking the lead.”

— Laurilee Thompson (floridatoday.com)

What’s next

Brevard County and Florida Tech will continue monitoring the effectiveness of the nanobubble pilot project in Titusville's marina. If the results are positive, the technology could potentially be expanded to other areas of the Indian River Lagoon.

The takeaway

While the nanobubble technology may provide short-term benefits by oxygenating the lagoon and breaking down organic muck, experts emphasize that addressing the root causes of pollution, such as runoff and sewage, is crucial for the Indian River Lagoon's long-term recovery and ecological health.