Inspired by the concept of biomimetics, the floating islands are active treatment systems, that purify and vivify water resources contaminated by sewage and/or industrial contaminants. They are artificial man-made floating islands built from discarded materials, which are purposely planted several species of ornamental and/or native plants to treat, purify and vivify lakes, rivers, canals, urban waterways, stormwater systems, sewage outflows, agricultural and industrial applications, aquaculture. They are modular systems and have multiple functions.

Project Results

Floating Islands exists to improve water quality in rivers and waterways, to create and maintain aquatic and terrestrial habitats, vivification of rivers and lakes, restoration of swampy areas, aesthetic improvement of urban and rural areas, among others. Its dense and diverse root zone provides a diverse habitat for the creation and establishment of biofilms (colonies of various bacteria), having an important function in the degradation of organic matter present in waterways.

Through the edge effects, it creates a larger area of ​​interface between aquatic and terrestrial environments, exponentially increasing the local biodiversity and providing a better balance between the trophic levels of the food chain. Artificial roots are built to further increase the contact surface areas and serve as a hiding place and food source for many fish and other aquatic species and / or amphibians.

The Floating Islands are similar in concept to “Constructed Wetlands”, acting as secondary/tertiary domestic sewage treatment system and as a secondary industrial sewage treatment system. The fact that Floating Islands are densely planted, preferably by native plants, it acts significantly on the aesthetics of waterways, bringing beauty to places that once were unnoticed by passersby and users.

The construction of artificial islands contributes and enhances the effect of ecological green trampolines, serving as an area for landing, resting, and reproduction of different birds species, where are normally found nests because of the low probability of the presence of predators.

In sites where there is no water contamination, the floating islands may be adapted to produce food like vegetables, legumes, and herbs, resembling as in "raft" system of traditional aquaponics, which produces up to two times faster without the need of fertilizer and/or irrigation while increasing the area available for planting in the producer ́s site.