Floating treatment wetlands are an innovative approach to water quality management and WSUD (Water Sensitive Urban Design) that mimic naturally occurring floating island environments – and enhance liveability, land value and local habitats.
The root systems of plants growing in these systems are suspended in the water column – and as plants flourish their root density increases, which provides a large surface area for the growth of microbes and biofilm. This biological network enhances pollution removal and sedimentation, which reduces algal growth, settles sediment, TSS (total suspended solids), and absorbs nitrogens and phosphorus (TN & TP).
As a result, floating treatment wetlands help to reduce the footprint required to meet water quality objectives compared to traditional constructed wetlands – by up to 60 per cent. These designs help maximise land yield for communities, developers and councils by conserving available foreshore. They also prevent the potential expense of purchasing additional land to increase wetlands size.
Floating treatment wetlands are a versatile approach to stormwater treatment and can be used in a wide variety of water bodies – such as estuaries, rivers, lakes and wastewater applications.
What are the benefits of modular Floating Treatment Wetlands?
Modular FTWs offer efficient avenues for integrating stormwater treatment assets in urban development, enhancing green spaces, cultivating aesthetic waterfront and supporting liveable communities.
Providing environmental, recreational, and sustainability benefits – they convey upsides to local stakeholders throughout the asset lifecycle. Additionally, modular floating treatment wetland modules may be seamlessly integrated into an existing installation – allowing the expansion of existing wetlands and the adaptation of assets to increase project scope.
Staging wetlands developments allows assets to scale to meet growing community demands and changes to stormwater management plans.
Modular FTW design also provides cost-effective asset maintenance and easier plant access – with plants and weeds being able to be removed from modules without impacting the underlying structure. Maintenance crews can access each module without disturbing or moving the entire system, which is particularly beneficial in scenarios requiring extensive weeding, repair, or media replacement. In these cases, single modules can be removed from the water body for replacement or remedial works.
Incorporating Modular Design
Atlan Stormwater’s cutting-edge Floating Treatment Wetlands technology is now incorporated in an innovative modular design – which provides versatility, high performance and scalability for water quality projects.
Each floating module measures approximately 4m x 2.3m each, and are joined together with nylon bolts, to create a variety of shapes and customisable footprints to meet catchment requirements.
Our design team is available nationwide to help you design floating treatment wetlands configurations that meet your catchment requirements and water quality objectives.
