Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID MO_2023_Niyogi

Mitigating Nonpoint Source Nutrient Pollution in Urban Runoff with Full-Scale Floating Treatment Wetlands

Institute: Missouri
Year Established: 2023 Start Date: 2023-09-01 End Date: 2024-08-31
Total Federal Funds: $25,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $25,000

Principal Investigators: Dev K. Niyogi

Project Summary: Nutrient laden stormwater can have a negative impact on urban surface waters, including toxic algal blooms. Researchers are evaluating floating treatment wetlands (FTWs), which can be used to remove excess nutrients and improve water quality. FTWs contain plants anchored into floating mats, with roots growing down into the water where they are in direct contact with contaminants. FTWs show tremendous promise, but many aspects remain poorly understood. We propose to test full-scale FTWs for their ability to alleviate nutrient enrichment. Two impacted ponds in Rolla, Missouri are selected for this project. Our research goals are to (1) assess treatment potential by quantifying nutrient storage and flows within a FTW system; and (2) compare growth response and nutrient uptake of FTW plants to make recommendations on plant management strategies, such as harvesting. Knowledge gained will guide decisions on best management practices regarding urban water quality improvement, benefiting resource management throughout Missouri.