ABC Waters Design Features

Introduction to ABC Waters Design Features

Crystal & Ayano : Hello everyone, today we will be sharing what  
                            ABC Waters Design Features is about.

Crystal : Ayano! Since there is ABC in the title, are we going to  
             learn about alphabet as well? (O.O)

Ayano : Heh… no (^_^). In the title, ABC represents Active, Beautiful
            and Clean. Which means the audience will be learning
            different Waters Design Features that contributes to the
            Active, Beautiful and Clean aspects.

Crystal & Ayano : The different Waters Design Features that we
                            will be sharing are

Vegetated Swale

Bioretention Basin

Sedimentation Basin

Floating Wetlands

Ayano : These Water Design Features are capable of removing

             pollutants and sediments from rainwater runoff as well
             as aesthetically pleasing for the public.

Crystal : That’s right! They also prevent eutrophication (algal
              bloom) from occurring. Look at the waterbody below
              which is suffering from eutrophication (T_T)

Ayano : Therefore, it is also highly recommended to build Waters

            Design Features on upstream of a waterbody (such as river or  
             lake) to ensure cleaner water entering the waterbody. (>_<)

Crystal & Ayano : Without further ado, let’s start introducing these

                     amazing features!

Vegetated Swale

Crystal : The first feature that we will introduce is the Vegetated Swale.

Crystal : I shall further explain the following processes. (^^)
             Sedimentation is a process whereby the sediments in water
             settle down onto the waterbody bed, thus the water runoff
             contains lesser sediments.

             Detention (Nope, not the usual punishment for students haha.  
             But the concept applies) is a process whereby water is detained
             in the Waters Design Feature (in this case, the water is detained
             in the vegetated swale). It promotes sedimentation.

             Conveyance is a process whereby the water is being transported
             from one place to another place.

             Infiltration is a process whereby the water seeps into the grass.

             
Crystal : But wait…. Why is the slope only 10° ? It is so close to being
              horizontal. (O.O)

Ayano : Vegetated swale is only slightly sloped because this Waters
            Design Feature has been used in parks whereby people do their
            jogging and other exercises. It prevents them from falling. Other
            than that, the slight slope enhances detention which in turn  
            enhances sedimentation. Thus, overall efficiency of vegetated
            swale is heightened. (^_^)

Crystal : Cool! (*0*)

Bioretention Basin

Ayano : Moving on, we shall introduce Bioretention Basin.

Ayano : I shall explain some of the processes which are not explained
            under the Vegetated Swale section. (^^)

            Filtration is the process whereby larger particles (in this case,
            finer particles) are trapped by the filter (in this case, plant roots)
            whereas the water will pass through the filter.

            Biological uptake is a process whereby soluble pollutants (for
            ABC Waters Design Features, main pollutants are nitrates and
            phosphates) are being uptaken by plants, thus the water is
            cleaner.

Crystal : Bioretention basin is also known as rain garden! Because the
             various plants being put together is like forming a garden!

Sedimentation Basin

Crystal : All right, next I will be introducing sedimentation basin. As I have
             mentioned earlier, sedimentation is a process whereby the
             sediments settle down onto the waterbody bed. Sedimentation
             basin specialises in that.
             Hehe, the picture shown below is not any typical pond or lake, but is a sedimentation basin.

Crystal : The process which has not been mentioned in the earlier
             sections are retention. Retention is a process whereby the water
             is retained in a waterbody (in this case, sedimentation basin) for
             longer period of time. Difference between detention and retention
             is that the water is retained for longer period of time during
             retention while detention is shorter than retention.
             (Did you get confused? XD)

Crystal : Realised that sedimentation basin does not use any plants at all?
             This Waters Design Feature only require a “large basin” so that
              as much sediments can settle down on the bed as possible.
              

Ayano : Sedimentation basin also serve as a habitat and water source for
            nearby animals.

Floating Wetlands

Ayano : Lastly, I will be introducing floating wetlands.

Ayano : Floating wetlands are efficient in preventing eutrophication.
            Eutrophication is a serious water pollution whereby there is
            excessive growth of algae on the water surface. Thus, sunlight
            cannot penetrate into the waterbody and the aquatic plants on the
            waterbody bed is unable to conduct photosynthesis. Hence,
            dissolved oxygen level in the waterbody decreases, resulting in
            death of aquatic plants and fishes.
            Eutrophication occurs when there is an excess in nutrients.

Crystal : Water Bodies suffering from eutrophication also emits foul smell
             due to production of hydrogen sulfide. (>_<)

Ayano : And regarding the biofilm on the root hairs of the wetland plants,
            this biofilm is basically a film of biological substances on the root
            hairs. These biological substances are responsible for taking in
            the nitrates and phosphates, thus preventing eutrophication.



Conclusion

Ayano : We shall now move on to the final section which is conclusion.
            The above mentioned Waters Design Features not only serve as
            water cleansing features, they also enable the public to
            appreciate the greenery as well as our valuable clean water.
            (^^)

Crystal : These Waters Design Features can be discovered in parks, walkways, wildlife conservation parks etc. In a way, they seem to have “hidden abilities” ! (*^*)

Crystal & Ayano : This bring forth the end of our blog! Hope you enjoyed!

This blog is happily and proudly brought to you by :

Crystal & Ayano

Reference

Board, P. U. (2011, July 6). ABC Waters Design Guidelines. Retrieved from http://www.pub.gov.sg/abcwaters/abcwatersdesignguidelines/Documents/ABCWatersDesignGuidelines_2011.pdf