Hydrology of green technology

This work examins the use of natural environmental processes (infiltration, adsorption, phytoremediation) to reduce pollution due to urban rainfall and stormwater runoff in Singapore. We are looking at raingardens, bioretention cells and green roofs as systems which use the soil and vegetation to achieve this cleansing effect.

As a first step, we look at the types of materials that should go into the soil media. Can they perform well in removing urban pollutants such as heavy metals? Or do they add on to urban pollution?  The materials we test must be easily found or recycled.

More to come... building the systems and carrying out monitoring to see if they work.

This work is funded by the Public Utilities Board, Singapore and include academics from Civil and Environmental Engineering, Science and Geography.

Hu Jiangyong, Ong Say Leong, Chew Soon Hoe; Ong Bee Lian; Chui Ting Fong, May; Lim Han She; Alan D. Ziegler; Lee Lai Yoke. Novel bioretention systems development for sustainable stormwater management    

Publications

Lim, H.S., Lim, W., Hu, J.Y., Ziegler, A., Ong, S.L. (2015) Comparison of filter media materials for heavy metal removal from urban stormwater runoff using biofiltration systems, Journal of Environmental Management 147, 24-33.