BENGALURU: In November 2016, artificial floating islands were installed in Puttenahalli lake to purify its water. The same procedure was adopted at Kaikondrahalli lake and Jakkur lake as well. The person responsible for the idea is a 29-year-old architect.
Himanshu Arteev of Biome Environmental Trust, which worked on the project, had read about the method being implemented in Canada.
He said it is similar to how purification happens in nature where certain plants purify water by absorbing certain compounds. In this method, such vegetation is grown on a floating structure made of PVC which is tethered to a stationary structure.
The compounds are nitrates, phosphates and sulphates, all of which are present in sewage. The device can regulate and improve the water quality, enhance plant and animal life. The plants need to be replanted every few months.
The total cost of building and installing each device is just `3,000. Himanshu says, “The best part is its simplicity and the ease of maintaining it. A lot of credit has to go to the people of Puttenahalli Neighbourhood Lake Improvement Trust.”