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The Role of Plants
The plants have three main
functions:
Naturally Engineered Wetland
Systems
TerraSave treatment systems
essentially comprise
self-contained artificially
engineered wetland
ecosystems. They utilize
particular combinations of
plants, soils, bacteria,
substrates, and hydraulic
flow systems to optimize the
physical, chemical, and
microbiological processes
naturally present in the
root zone.
Treatment is possible due to
the special characteristics
of wetland plants, such as
reeds, which transfer
substantial amounts of
atmospheric oxygen through
their root systems. This
role of the plants
encourages an extraordinary
quantity of species
diversity of microorganisms
to flourish in the soil
around the plant roots.
The Natural Breakdown of
Contaminants
The breakdown of
contaminants is achieved by
the controlled seepage of
the water borne pollutants
through the root zone of the
wetland plants. Organic
pollutants are broken down
as a food source by
microorganisms and the
plants, while other
contaminants, such as metals
and PCBs, are fixed in the
humus acid in the soil or
mineral substrates in which
the plants are rooted.
Powerful Reactions in the
Root Zone
The complexity of microbial
forms and powerful reactions
within the root zone of the
oil based TerraSave result
in an extraordinary water
cleaning capability. This
capability is often far less
constrained than in many
chemical or physical
treatment systems.
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