Floating wetlands cut wastewater emissions by a third
A trial on Phillip Island found floating wetlands cut wastewater emissions by about 30 per cent over two years.
Researchers planted native reeds and sedges on a 330-square-metre floating platform (roughly 1.5 tennis courts) in a wastewater lagoon on Phillip Island, Victoria. The plants' roots hung into the water, creating space for microbes that broke down organic matter and took in nutrients.
Compared to a control lagoon without the wetland, the trial cut carbon dioxide by up to 36 per cent and methane by up to 66 per cent. Nitrogen dropped by 18 per cent.
RMIT University, Westernport Water and the CSIRO ran the two-year study. Wastewater treatment worldwide makes roughly 700 million tonnes of greenhouse gases yearly; Victoria alone produces about 1 million tonnes annually.
Researchers say floating wetlands could be added to existing lagoons without major changes to infrastructure. Water companies have already shown interest in further trials.
- 330 square metres (1.5 tennis courts)
- Platform size
- up to 66 percent
- Methane reduction
- 700 million tonnes yearly
- Global wastewater emissions
- 1 million tonnes annually
- Victoria's wastewater emissions
Why it mattersWastewater treatment causes major emissions globally. A nature-based solution that works in real lagoons could cut that burden significantly.
AustraliaVictoria's wastewater lagoons produce about 1 million tonnes of greenhouse gases yearly. This trial shows a low-cost, nature-based way to cut that pollution substantially without major infrastructure overhaul.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 12 d ago
