Development of a Fully Biodegradable Floating Treatment Wetland

Existing floating treatment wetland designs rely heavily on plastics and other synthetic materials for construction which can become sources of pollution in ponds. Floating treatment wetlands should be constructed using more eco-friendly materials which provide similar services without threatening the environment. Researchers plan to: monitor buoyancy for multiple biodegradable floating treatment wetland designs, evaluate plant growth on biodegradable rafts for multiple plant species, and quantify nutrient removal (i.e., water quality improvement) via plant uptake for each floating treatment wetland design. It is anticipated that development of an eco-friendly treatment strategy to improve water quality and provide habitat in urban ponds will result.