Revival of water bodies serving as recharge points
Reviving water bodies using bio-plants involves employing aquatic plants and related biological processes to naturally cleanse and restore the health of polluted or degraded water ecosystems. This approach, also known as bioremediation or phytoremediation, utilizes plants' natural ability to absorb pollutants, filter water, and enhance the overall ecosystem.
How it works:
- Phytoremediation: Certain aquatic plants can absorb pollutants like excess nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), heavy metals, and other harmful substances from the water.
- Biofiltration: Plant roots and the surrounding microbial communities (bacteria and fungi) break down organic pollutants and improve water quality.
- Habitat Enhancement: Plants provide shelter and food for aquatic organisms, promoting biodiversity and a healthy ecosystem.
- Sediment Stabilization: Floating wetlands can reduce water turbulence, allowing suspended particles to settle and stabilize the sediment.
- Nutrient Cycling: Plants absorb excess nutrients, preventing algal blooms and improving water clarity.
Specific examples:
- Duckweed: A fast-growing aquatic plant that can be used to treat wastewater and rejuvenate rivers and lakes.
- Constructed Wetlands: Artificial wetlands designed with specific aquatic plants to filter and purify water.
- Floating Wetlands: Artificial floating platforms with plants that act as biofilters in open water bodies.
- Various Aquatic Plants: Typha, Phragmites, Alternanthera, Ipomoea, and Solanum are some examples of aquatic plants used in wetland systems.
Challenges:
- Plant selection: Choosing the right plant species for specific pollutants and water conditions is crucial.
- Maintenance: Constructed wetlands and floating wetlands require regular maintenance to ensure optimal performance.
- Scale: Large-scale water body restoration may require significant investment and coordination.
- Long-term effectiveness: Monitoring and long-term management are necessary to maintain the benefits.
Benefits:
- Cost-effective: Compared to traditional mechanical or chemical treatment, bio-plant solutions can be more affordable and sustainable.
- Environmentally friendly: Reduces reliance on harmful chemicals and promotes natural processes.
- Improved water quality: Cleanses water, reduces pollutants, and enhances the overall health of the ecosystem.
- Habitat creation: Supports a diverse range of aquatic life.
- Aesthetic improvement: Can enhance the beauty and recreational value of water bodies.
Sanjay Van Lake
This is situated at Mehrauli village and is one of the five lakes where the concept of floating wetland islands is being implemented, the others being at Rani Khera, Jaffarpur Kalan, Nangloi, and Sonia Vihar.
The lake has a holding capacity of 129 MGD and spans about 6000 sq ft. Sanjay Van receives treated sewage from Vasant Kunj STP that has a capacity of 5 million gallons per day (MGD).
The lake has been cleaned successfully, and floating rafters have been deployed to enhance water quality using a unique combination of floating wetlands and aeration technology. This innovative engineering solution for in-situ treatment was adopted in this case due to lack of space for building an STP. This project will also raise the groundwater table.
