Floating wetlands provide cost-effective nature-based water remedy – Information and occasions

01 October 2025

A brand new worldwide research has endorsed synthetic floating wetlands as a sustainable and cost-effective resolution for enhancing water high quality in rivers, lakes and wastewater methods.

Led by scientists from Australia’s nationwide science company CSIRO and the University of South Australia, the workforce of researchers analysed 11 worldwide constructed floating wetlands (CFW) initiatives in Australia, Pakistan, Canada and the USA.

Artificial or constructed floating wetlands contain planting wetland vegetation on floating rafts, mimicking a pure ecosystem that removes vitamins, sediments and different pollution from the host water physique.

The researchers discovered that capital prices for floating wetlands ranged from as little as A$22 per sq. metre, to greater than A$3800 per sq. metre, relying on design, location and objective.

Operating prices diversified from A$0.76 to A$274 per sq. metre every year.

Lead creator, CSIRO Research Engineer and UniSA Adjunct Research Fellow Dr John Awad, says the findings will assist councils, utilities and water managers higher perceive the financial feasibility of floating wetlands in comparison with typical remedy methods which use bodily, chemical and organic processes.

“Floating wetlands mimic the functions of natural ecosystems, filtering nutrients and pollutants through plant roots and microbial communities,” Dr Awad says.

“But until now, there’s been limited data on what they actually cost to build, maintain and operate at scale. Our study shows that while costs vary, floating wetlands can be competitive with other engineering treatment options, especially for nitrogen removal.”

On common, the price of eradicating nitrogen was between A$15 and A$183 per kilogram – persistently cheaper than eradicating phosphorus, which ranged from $A23 to A$4979 per kilogram.

“Scale matters,” says Dr Awad. “Larger wetlands reduced the cost per kilogram of nutrients removed, making them more economical over time. Climate also plays a role. Wetlands in warmer regions had longer growing seasons and higher pollutant removal rates.”

Floating wetlands are more and more being trialled to deal with home wastewater, stormwater and polluted city rivers.

In Australia, schemes within the Sunshine Coast area and Victoria have focused wastewater and stormwater, whereas initiatives within the United States have integrated group areas, ecological restoration and even floating boardwalks.

Study co-author, UniSA Professor Simon Beecham, says the expertise has added benefits past water high quality.

“Floating wetlands can be retrofitted into existing lakes and stormwater ponds without the need for costly land acquisition,” Prof Beecham says.

“They also provide habitat for birds and aquatic life, improve urban amenity, and may even contribute to carbon sequestration.”

The analysis workforce highlighted vital value variations between initiatives in developed and creating nations. For instance, wetlands in-built Pakistan value simply A$13-20 per sq. metre – a fraction of the expense in Australia and North America – attributable to decrease labour and materials prices.

“Understanding these variations helps governments and planners adapt the technology to local conditions,” based on Dr Awad.

“It also shows that floating wetlands could be a particularly valuable option in low- and middle-income countries, where affordable, low-energy treatment systems are urgently needed.”

The authors say floating wetlands are usually not a silver bullet however ought to be thought-about as a part of a broader suite of water remedy choices.

‘Assessing the costs of constructed floating wetlands for the treatment of surface waters and wastewater’ is printed in ACS ES&T Water. DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.5c00439

 

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Researcher contacts: Dr John Awad E: John.Awad@csiro.au; Professor Simon Beecham
E: Simon.Beecham@unisa.edu.au

Media contact: Candy Gibson M: +61 434 605 142 E: Candy.Gibson@unisa.edu.au