FORRES-based Biomatrix Water marked World Wetlands Day on February 2 by celebrating the delivery of 10,368 floating wetland modules across 245 projects in more than 20 countries worldwide.
The floating wetland modules are described as infrastructure-grade interlocking structures made from both recycled and natural components, installed in polluted freshwater bodies to improve water quality and biodiversity.
The ‘living laboratory’ modules are deployed from London and Amsterdam to Chicago and Melbourne. They work by mimicking natural wetlands to bring their benefits into places where traditional solutions were not possible – such as polluted urban waterways.
Examples of the technology’s positive impact include Eden Dock at Canary Wharf and the ‘Wild Mile’ in Chicago – a stretch of the Chicago River previously listed among America’s most endangered due to high levels of water pollution. The introduction of Biomatrix’s floating wetlands in 2017 has gradually improved water conditions, transforming the once-industrialised area into the world’s first floating ‘eco park’ and bringing tens of thousands of annual visitors to its network of boardwalks and native-plant gardens.
Working with international partners and home water technology solutions specialist RSE, Biomatrix is now looking to a new wave of projects across the world.
Wetlands are said to be some of the planet’s most productive and vital ecosystems, storing vast amounts of carbon and harbouring wildlife. However, due to land use change, these habitats are disappearing up to three times faster than forests.
Galen Fulford, MD at Biomatrix Water Solutions, said, “World Wetlands Day is the perfect opportunity to celebrate how powerful nature can be in cleaning up our waterways. We’re privileged to build on that power as we continue todevelop our approach to deliver genuinely impactful projects at pace around the globe.”
RSE’s strategic partnership, and investment in, Biomatrix has been instrumental in the entry of the company’s floating ecosystem solutions to the international market, .including the US.
