Traditional wet ponds (NURP, retention basins, retention ponds) rely on settling to remove TSS and nutrients from stormwater. Adding BioHaven® Floating Islands with wetland plants provides a valuable tool to increase nutrient removal and wetland habitat. The anchored islands have a thick, porous mat base and long plant roots that hang below the island to draw more nutrients, encourage robust microbial activity, and effectively clean water using natural processes. Reducing nutrients in the water reduces algae.
Biohaven® Floating Wetlands Treatment Technology
BioHaven® floating wetlands were recognized by the U.S. State Department in 2014 as one of the top six innovations in water technologies, demonstrating their ability to enhance the ecosystem both above and below the water surface.
These artificial floating islands are made from a matrix of non-woven PET plastic fibers derived from BPA-free recycled plastic drinking bottles and injected marine-grade foam for increased buoyancy. They include plant holes and anchor points to facilitate better vegetation growth and customization for shallow, deep, and moving water bodies.
This unique matrix provides over 125 square feet per cubic foot of surface area, including the long roots below the floating island. BioHaven® Floating Islands are a virtual bioreactor that mimics floating peat bogs and natural wetlands. The islands cycle and reduce nutrients in the water, reducing algae.
Stormwater Removal Rates
| Contaminant | Removal Rate |
|---|---|
| Total Nitrogen | 67% |
| Total Phosphorus | 68% |
| TSS | 75% |
Benefits of Floating Wetland Mat Stormwater Treatment
Why should you consider incorporating BioHaven® Floating Wetlands water mats into your new or existing stormwater treatment processes? The benefits are numerous and include:
Eco-Friendly
The floating water mats provide ample area for microbes to attach and work to remove impurities from the water naturally. There is no need to bring in earth-moving equipment with islands. Just plant the wetland islands on the side of the pond and push them into the water. They can be tethered to shore or anchored deeper with the help of a canoe or shallow boat.
Cost-Effective
Man-made floating wetlands are relatively inexpensive compared to other water treatments.
Long-Term Use
BioHaven® Floating Wetlands perform continuously after installation to improve water quality and provide wetland habitat. To extend their life, we have added UV protection called Armor. Islands are fine over the winter in stormwater ponds. We prefer the islands remain in the water so you do not knock nutrients off into the water that may be on the underside of the island. The native wetland plants should grow back and look lush for the following summer.
Aesthetic Appeal
Once the wetland plants grow back in the later spring, these floating water mats appear natural and add natural beauty to any waterway, stormwater retention pond, or treatment pond.
Customizable
Man-made floating wetlands from Midwest Floating Island are customizable. We can create islands in various shapes and lengths and modify them to include extra buoyancy. Our standard islands ship in 5-foot or 6.6-foot wide pieces and can be combined into larger islands.
Storm, Hurricane, and Winter Proof
Floating wetlands and plants survive heavy storms and even withstood hurricane-force winds during Hurricane Isaac. The challenge is the anchoring, which may break loose, so we recommend you add extra anchor weight and strong connections to handle big storms.
Effective
BioHaven® Floating Wetlands are a chemical-free solution to water treatment. Islands are even more effective in stagnant ponds if you can add a way to move water past the roots, such as using a bubbler aerator or placing the islands near a place with natural inflow or outflow.
Enjoy Multiple Benefits from Every Application
You get additional benefits for every reason you install a floating island. If you installed the floating wetlands to reduce algae, the reduced nutrients and lower TSS from the vegetated islands would enhance aquatic life below the waterline, pollinator habitat above the waterline, and aesthetics.
Reduce Mosquitoes and Enhance Other Insect Habitats
More bird, bat, and insect pollinators visiting diverse plants can also help reduce mosquitoes around the water. We always encourage people to plant some Swamp Milkweed plants on the islands. Monarch butterflies need milkweed for their eggs and suffer from population declines due to reduced habitats across the US.
Install Green Infrastructure Floating Islands FWI
Climate change is causing more significant and frequent rain activity. The floating mats are anchored to move up and down with changing water levels in the stormwater ponds. The floating base provides better plant survival rates than shoreline plants that suffer from periods of droughts and floods. We recommend anchoring for at least the 10-year high water level. Some prefer to anchor for 100-year high water levels, which are becoming more frequent.
Leveraging nature’s own processes, BioHaven® floating wetland islands (FWIs) are an excellent way to improve ecosystems and restore wetlands to our environment. To request a contact, contact Midwest Floating Island in St. Paul, Minnesota, at 651-379-2480 or complete the interest form.