Floating Plant Clusters for Urban Runoff Pollution Abatement System (FPC–UROPAS): A Bench Scale Study

Udayashankara T. H; Sadashiva Murthy B. M; Madhukar M

Volume : IV, Issue : XI, November - 2015

Floating Plant Clusters for Urban Runoff Pollution Abatement System (FPC–UROPAS): A Bench Scale Study

Udayashankara T. H, Sadashiva Murthy B. M, Madhukar M

Abstract :

Urban runoff dissolves and uptakes many pollutants from various natural terrain and urban infrastructures. These urban runoffs has the potential to degrade the nearby fresh water sources. Hence, the urban runoff is considered to be significant source of non point pollution of fresh water sources which needs to be addressed to reduce the pollution load on to pond, lake, river etc. Various filtering materials and abatement system have been practiced and experimented for the same, but found not practicable. Researchers have evidently proved that floating wetlands systems can provide reasonable extent of treatment for the runoff waters. The plants root zone play a very important role in reducing organic and inorganic, metal and nonmetal pollutant loads. In the present bench scale study, a faicated channel (0.25m3), polyurethane sheet (surface area 0.04m2 and thickness of 0.025m) and Eichhornia crassipes, was used for construction of urban storm water pollution abatement system. Urban runoff containing Nitrate, Phosphorus, Lead, Zinc and Cadmium, were synthesized in laboratory. The system bared a promising result of >80% and >85% nutrient and heavy metal removal respectively. Hence, urban storm water collection and conveyance system if planned and managed properly, can be provided with Synthetic floating plant clusters as mesocosm to remove nutrient and heavy metals from the stream.