Good morning 
Going back not too long ago in Australia waterways were used as drains, many of which were dredged and replaced with concrete destroying natural habitat and pumped full of pollutants and used as road run offs.
Even sewage was run off into local creeks, up unti the 1990s a chemical facility used to drain all their toxic chemicals into the local water ways which led out to the Bay. These practices led to the destruction of native habitats. Many of the water ways are still scarred. My old area in Ardeer was a waste land. The only thing capable of surviving were weeds. There was limited animals other than stray cats and rabbits.
Which is why I am amazed at this wonderful system of catchment areas designed to capture and clean water prior to it returning to waterways. Which are vital for not only our survival and enjoyment but the survival of native plants and animals in the local area.
An entry catchment that collects water run off from roads and houses enters the first pool which also houses a net that collects rubbish. This pool also stores sediment that flows into it. The sediment is a mixture of carbon from vehicles, chemicals that end up on the road as well as construction debris. Alot of this sediment is toxic and harmful to the environment. Also consisting of plastics that people discard and can kill native animals. Traditionally this would have all just flowed straight into the water ways. This design in the first pool captures this waste and stores it in the first pool.
As the sediment builds up it is collected and transported off location to a waste management facility where it is tested and either treated and cleaned or disposed of depending on its toxicity.
As water levels rise a secondary catchment again prevents smaller finer particles from entering the waterways by further capturing more of the pollutants. Mainly rubbish is collected in the first pool and in this second pool smaller finer material is collected.
A viewing platform and walking bridge allows visitors to explore the pools and see them in action. They also provide educational walks to school children so they can learn about the initiative.
A third larger pool is also in operation where now the water has been filtered and flows to this location. It is almost ready to return to the waterways. However this pool ensures any finer particles again are further captured. By this stage fish are present in the water and birds can be seen fishing. The fish also provide nutrients, rebalancing the PH levels of the water.
A final pool is used to purify the water naturally with charcoal, rocks and native water plants and reeds. This provides the water with oxygen and naturally occurring purification through the ecosystem.
As you can see at this level the water is clean and provides for a thriving plant life. The water passed through one more channel under ground and into the main lake and into water ways clean and purified ready to support the plants and animals that require fresh clean water.
Absolutely amazing! We need more of this to ensure our environment remains clean and healthy. Let me know what you think in the comments section below.
Are you as amazed by it as me? I feel like going for a swim in that last pool. So beautiful.