BioHaven® Floating Islands – Sustainable Green Infrastructure
Man Made Floating Island Technology
The BioHaven® Floating Islands, sometimes called floating bioreactor, “bio-mimics” floating peat bogs and natural wetlands to improve water quality without chemical treatment and to create important wetland habitat. These floating man-made wetlands harness natural processes to filter and digest excess nutrients and organic solids from the impaired water. Selected by the US State Department in 2014 as one of top six innovations in water technologies, BioHaven floating wetlands help improve the ecosystem both above and below the water line.
Floating Treatment Wetlands Clean Water
Under the Floating Treatment Wetland (FTW), BioHaven is designed to improve water quality by leveraging biofilm and microbial activity on the long plant roots and the substrate matrix. BioHaven floating islands help manage Total Phosphorous (TP) and reduce total Nitrogen (TN), total suspended solids (TSS), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), copper and zinc in the water. Floating Islands are a sustainable green solution for bioremediation, improved water quality, and reduced algae. To read more in-depth, click here.
Once planted, the islands provide wonderful biodiversity. Many Floating Wetlands are planted with pollinator plants. Not only can you grow different plants than on the shoreline, but there is also habitat for birds, reptiles and other wildlife above the island. Under the water, fish and other aquatic species flourish with the rich food source on the roots and the spaces in the matrix.
How BioHaven Floating Islands are Constructed
BioHaven floating islands are constructed from a matrix of non-woven PET plastic fibers derived from BPA free recycled plastic drinking bottles (resulting in less plastic in landfills). Marine grade foam is injected for buoyancy. Islands can get quite heavy in the water with all the microbial activity.
BioHaven islands have an internal structure, anchor points and wicking holes for planting with vegetation. The fibers in the matrix encourage optimal root growth. BioHaven floating islands are custom built to fit specific needs in stormwater ponds, shallow lakes, backyard ponds, streams and other waterways that remain wet during the year. Floating islands can be used in deeper waters with appropriate anchoring. Every island is manufactured with anchor points. Extra bounce is added with anchor lines so the floating island can adjust to fluctuations in water level which avoids plants dying from drying out or getting flooded.
BioHaven man-made wetlands can be considered a floating version of a constructed wetland that can be positioned in places where you couldn’t establish a traditional constructed wetland due to constraints such as cost, lack of space and ease of access.
BioHaven floating treatment wetlands are an earth-friendly solution which leverages science and natural systems for treating urban stormwater, agricultural runoff, and other non point-source pollution applications. The floating islands have also been successfully used for a variety of wastewater lagoons and detention basins.
BioHavens represent an inexpensive option to retrofit into existing lagoon and pond systems. No additional land or major impact on the environment is required.
Because they are man-made, Biohaven islands can be made any size or shape to fit beautifully into any waterway. The BioHaven wetland is designed to be self-sustaining and durable. Unlike thin mats, the thick BioHaven Floating Wetlands do not need to be removed over the winter and continue to clean the water. These wetlands withstood hurricane force winds during Hurricane Isaac .
Man-made Floating Wetlands can be easily combined with other water quality tools. Some owners launch them with aeration systems if they have oxygen issues in the water.