What a concept!...but what is it?...
A wetland is in fact a natural way to capture, purify and recycle stormwater run-off.
Put simply, stormwater run-off is captured by a wetland area where a nearby injection well sends this wet season water directly back into the deep earth aquifer (where bore water is tapped).
However, the water is purified first in several ways. Within 3-4 hours, heavy metals settle and are removed - not taken out to sea untreated.
Reed beds surrounding the wetland filter and purify the nutrient-rich run-off to produce clean water.
Fish also thriving in this water, take care of any insects and larvae.
Flooding waters are taken away more comprehensively than blocked stormwater drains because the injection well pumps directly into the underground aquifer (well below the groundwater table).
In fact, the wetland process creates a more purified (less salty) form of water than exists in the aquifer itself. This is because stormwater drains also ensure water basins are never again replenished, and these water basins can then be pumped by bores to their salty limits.
As the need for water in the dry season is required, the injection well taps back into this water storage basin. The biggest water tank available on tap!
The Committee would like to thank Colin Pitman, Director City Projects, City of Salisbury, for his time and his passion, in explaining what a wetland is and what it can do. For further information on the many successful projects conducted by the City of Salisbury, please visit the Review of Wetlands in Salisbury.
Other Councils have been toying with the idea for far too long (5th August 2004 article), especially when top of the agenda is to manage (and rectify) stormwater infrastructure. Get up to date with modern techniques, see City of Salisbury.
Here's a few more places in the the world reaping the benefits.
Other successful and inexpensive projects include:
School wetland from $28,000 grant
United Water's grant for wetland-treated stormwater
Project to harvest storm water for drinking
Grange wetland project NEW
Wetlands for Cheltenham Park Racecourse
Imagine pockets of water catchments that directs the water to the wetland in the middle of Cheltenham Park's vast racetrack. Port Road may never flood again! Stagnant pools of slushy and mosquito-breeding pools elsewhere, using old dilapidated drain technology, too expensive to cover and hide away, can also become wetlands for more people and wildlife to enjoy.
Racing can continue, just as it does at Morphettville Racecourse with the wetland located in the centre of this racetrack.
When racing is not happening, the gates can be opened to the public to access the Wetland Park. No one will be walking on racetracks if there is a walkway to a wonderland within. The City of Salisbury enjoys the influx of international visitors to marvel at the attraction created by their wetlands, and the same can happen for the western suburbs.
Further, revenue can be generated by selling cheaper water to industries, greening of the historic Cemetery nearby, and to residents. This will help the State to reduce River Murray dependency and depletion, and surely a cheaper option creating our own reusable water rather than buying back water licences, as has been proposed. These wetland "water banks" are a long-term sustainable option for continued water supply.
Adelaide Park Lands Aquifer Storage and Recovery Investigations Commence
Potential visions of a water-saving wetland inside the racetrack at Cheltenham Park Racecourse:
Photo of actual wetlands located in the City of Salisbury, as an
alternative strategy for managing urban stormwater.
A track of a different kind - a wetland track:
Permission to publish these pictures kindly received from the City of Salisbury.