Working with Wessex Water, a floating wetland has been installed in the stormwater lagoon at Ubley Water Recycling Centre in Bristol, as part of their innovative trial to assess nature-based solutions for the treatment of stormwater overflows at sites that are influenced by high groundwater infiltration

The root system of the native aquatic plants help to naturally improve the quality of the water, which is held in the lagoon when the stormwater overflow operates.  Sampling will be carried out upstream and downstream of the floating wetland to assess the improvement to the water quality before it enters the local stream.

“It was great to work with Biomatrix on the installation of the floating wetland at Ubley WRC.  This trial scheme is part of a wider pilot study to investigate how different nature-based solutions can improve water quality at stormwater overflows.  The performance of the floating wetland will be monitored by water quality sampling over the coming months and years and the data will be used to inform future nature-based designs. The team were professional and knowledgeable from design to installation and were a pleasure to work with”

Alistair Barlow

Networks Project Manager | Nature-based Solutions

This low impact option presents a sustainable alternative to building expensive, carbon-intensive stormwater storage and treatment solutions.

This particular project incorporates a particularly bespoke anchoring system which allows the wetland to be pulled to the side of the pond for safer access during routine maintenance.