Natuurlijke waterzuivering met helofytenfilters

Conservation & management
Natural water purification

Water purification with riverbank and water plants.

For several decades, marshy areas planted with riverbank plants have been used the purify water. These artificial swamps are called helophyte filters. One of the first helophyte filters in the Netherlands was constructed with the help of Bureau Waardenburg during the 1980s. Since that time, the bureau has advised several governmental organisations on the natural purification of different types of water systems, using both plants and animals.

Bureau Waardenburg carries out research for municipalities, water district boards and the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management on the use of plants to improve the water quality. The bureau has extensive knowledge on natural purification processes, such as the nutrition intake of plants and the detoxifying abilities of micro-organisms. Initially, helophyte filters were only used for the purification of overflow water from sewers and the effluent of sewer purification installations. Nowadays, both riverbank and water plants are used for the purpose of purifying surface water in urban areas as well as in nature reserves. In this context Bureau Waardenburg conducts research to calculate the purifying capacity necessary to clean the surface runoff water in several urban communities. In nature reserves helophyte filters can be used to reach international water quality standards.

Bureau Waardenburg advises on the neutralization of organic and inorganic pollution and has an extensive experience in judging and monitoring the biological condition of a water system.

Projecten
	Surface water purified by nature

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