FLOATING TREATEMENT WETLAND

FLOATING TREATMENT PLANT

 FLOATING TREATMENT PLANTS

 Floating treatment plants are a useful tool used to

increase water quality of ponds and lakes.

 FTWs will target excess nutrients in water, which is

the main contributor to aquatic weed growth in
ponds.

 Adding FTWs to a pond can also increase the

biodiversity by providing additional wildlife refuge.
WHY ARE PLANTS SO EFFECTIVE?
 it’s all about the symbiotic
relationship between the plants’ roots
and the microbes and bacteria.
 It works like this: Plant roots secrete
sugar and oxygen for the bacteria and
microbes to feed on.
 The bacteria and microbes appreciate
this, and in return, give the plant
valuable goodness, like nitrogen,
phosphorous and ammonia.
 Biofilm will grow on plastic.
However, the inside layer of the
biofilm will receive no oxygen, which
will cause it to die and fall off.
HOW FLOATING TREATMENT WETLANDS
ARE CONSTRUCTED

 Floating treatment wetlands are made from 100%

recycled polyethylene terephthalate, commonly
known as PET and used in plastic drink bottles. The
recycled plastic is made into a non-woven, non-toxic,
durable matrix of fibres. Dense and porous, it is
extremely inert and has been coated in a UV-resistant
resin to US Environmental Protection Agency
irradiation accelerated degradation standards.
 POLYESTER FLOATING MAT

• Aerial view of a polyester

floating mat (~2.3 m2),
produced by Floating
Islands International
(Montana, USA), with
integral buoyancy provided
by injected patches of
marine polystyrene
 WHAT PLANTS DO WE USE?

 The plant species suitable for floating media are selected

according to the reserve buoyancy required for the application.

 Generally, terrestrial species, such as wetland sedges, rushes

and grasses, are the best option as they develop superior root
structures within the water to provide for an increased surface
area. However, many other planting types are also used.

 The recommended planting density is three to five plants per

square metre.
 PRINCIPLE

 It provide Biological filtration system and removal

of pollutant from the water

 Per Square meter it process about

5 kg –nitrogen (N)
2 kg - Phosphorus (P)
 This is a typical nutrient loading in one megalitre of
polluted water
PROCESS OF TREATMENT
 HOW FLOATING TREATMENT
WETLANDS WORK
 Floating treatment media modules provide a base for plants to
grow.

 The media is open and porous in structure, which enables the

plants’ roots to spread and create a vast activated surface area.

 This is where the microbes and bacteria live — they adhere to

the roots and the microscopic root hairs of the plants and
within the fibrous media.
 CONTIN…

 The microbes and bacteria secrete sticky extracellular proteins

forming biofilms.

 Here they trap and settle total suspended solids (TSS) as well
as digest the organic matter/nutrients, including biochemical
oxygen demand (BOD), nitrogen and phosphorous.
FLOATING PLANTS
FLOATING PLANT BASE
FLOATING PLANT BASE
 APPLICATIONS
 Stormwater (e.g., Headley and Tanner, 2007; Kerr-Upal et al., 2000; Revitt
et al., 1997).

 Combined stormwater-sewer overflow (e.g., Van Acker et al., 2005).

 Sewage (e.g., Ash and Truong, 2003; Ayaz and Saygin, 1996; Todd et al.,
2003).

 Acid mine drainage (e.g., Smith and Kalin, 2000).

 Piggery effluent (e.g., Hubbard et al., 2004; Ash and Truong, 2003).

 Poultry processing wastewater (e.g., Todd et al., 2003).

 Water supply reservoirs (e.g., Garbutt, 2004)

 BENEFITS OF FLOATING WETLANDS

 Absorption of dissolved heavy metals

 Clarification of water through the flocculating effect of bacteria

 Removal of dissolved organic matter

 Reduction of odours

 Suppression of waves

 Provision of habitat for aquatic fauna and birds

 Aesthetically pleasing effect of floating gardens

 Reduced evaporation through the shading effect on water