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This study investigated plant growth, nutrient partitioning and total nutrient uptake by tall sedge (Carex appressa) plants in two large-scale Constructed Floating Wetlands (CFW1 and CFW2). These CFWs were installed to treat stormwater runoff discharging into a newly-constructed 2.6-ha lake during the construction phase of a 45-ha residential development. Nutrient concentrations of C. appressa shoot above the mat, biomass within the mat, and roots below the mat were analysed 0, 12 and 16 months after planting. Extensive root growth was evident after 12 and 16 months. Some nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur) were distributed almost evenly among the above-, within-, and below-mat components, while others (aluminium, copper, iron, manganese) were concentrated in or on the roots. Given the low concentrations of nutrients within the water column, large amounts of nutrients were removed from stormwater by the plants. Total nitrogen uptake was 20.20 ± 2.88 kg in CFW1 and 15.00 ± 2.07 kg in CFW2 over the 16-month study period. Total potassium uptake was 12.59 ± 1.64 kg in CFW1 and 7.20 ± 1.56 kg in CFW2. Phosphorus uptake was low as a consequence of low phosphorus availability in the water. High aluminium, iron and manganese concentrations were found in the roots, demonstrating that C. appressa removed and sequestered large quantities of these water pollutants from urban stormwater runoff. For example, total aluminium uptake was 7.82 ± 1.73 kg in CFW1 and 5.62 ± 0.75 kg in CFW2. This study demonstrated multiple benefits of CFWs for stormwater treatment in the early stages of an urban development usc Refereed/Peer-reviewed

Floating treatment wetland (FTW) systems are an innovative stormwater treatment technology currently being trialled in Australia. FTWs provide support for selected plant species to remove pollutants from stormwater discharged into a storage basin. The plant roots provide large surface areas for biofilm growth, which serves to trap suspended particles and enable the biological uptake of nutrients. FTWs can be installed at the start of the construction phase and can therefore start treating construction runoff almost immediately. FTWs have the potential to provide a full range of stormwater runoff treatment (e.g. sediment and nutrient removal) from the construction phase onwards. A 101 m2 FTWs has been installed within a greenfield development site on the Sunshine Coast, in Australia. The two-year research study investigated the pollution removal performance of the FTW for two different locations, one with low and one with moderate influent pollutant concentrations. This paper presents the research methodology used, and the initial study results of the treatment efficiency of FTWs. usc Refereed/Peer-reviewed

This study compared plant growth, nutrient partitioning and total nutrient uptake by tall sedge (Carex appressa) plants in large-scale Constructed Floating Wetlands (CFWs). Two CFWs with a total area of 2088 m2 were installed in a 2.6 ha man-made urban lake to treat stormwater runoff during the construction phase of a 45-ha residential development. After 12 months of operation, parts of the CFWs, with a total area of 147 m2, were removed from the urban lake and relocated into a well-established 0.127-ha stormwater retention pond at another site. Biomass and nutrient concentrations of C. appressa shoots above the floating mat and roots below the mat were analysed at both sites 12, 16 and 25 months after initial planting. Plants at the urban lake maintained an extensive root network but there was no increase in total plant biomass at 16 and 25 months after planting. In contrast, the relocated plants in the stormwater pond showed extensive shoot growth but a significant decline in root biomass. C. appressa at the urban lake removed and sequestered 1.00 ± 1.04 g m−2 N, 0.11 ± 0.07 g m−2 P and 1.03 ± 0.81 g m−2 K while plants at the pond removed 11.20 ± 2.29 g m−2 N, 1.37 ± 0.26 g m−2 P and 16.13 ± 2.88 g m−2 K during 12 and 25 months after planting. This study demonstrated that C. appressa adapted rapidly to changes in nutrient availability. The implications are interesting as nutrient levels can be low in constructed lakes during the initial phase of urban developments but can increase rapidly as the development progresses. The study demonstrated multiple benefits of CFWs for stormwater treatment during the early construction stages of an urban development and the potential benefits of relocating and establishing CFWs in existing stormwater retention ponds and lakes.