Floating island flowerbed purification system "DEKS": Advanced environmental technology in harmony with nature

Floating island flowerbed purification system "DEKS": Advanced environmental technology in harmony with nature

Among the environmental technologies that Dowa Techno-Engine Corporation was developing and introducing in 2007, the "Floating Island Flowerbed Purification System (DEKS)" attracted particular attention. This technology was not just an industrial water treatment device, but a water purification system based on an ecological engineering method designed to harmonize with nature, and was very unusual in its structure and conception.

DEKS is a flowerbed-like structure floating on the surface of the water, in which plants are planted to absorb and decompose nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic matter in the water through the action of plants and symbiotic microorganisms. The purification targets include park ponds, regulating ponds, and wastewater reservoirs in industrial complexes, and are designed to both improve the appearance and quality of the water. In particular, secondary effects such as heat island countermeasures and landscape improvement can be expected through the greening of the water surface.

The value of this technology lies not only in its water purification function, but also in its educational value in raising the environmental awareness of citizens. There were reports of cases where this technology was introduced in a model environmental district or a corner of an eco-town, where citizens' groups and children participated in planting and maintenance activities.

The system was also evaluated for its low energy consumption and simple operation and management compared to conventional activated sludge and chemical treatment methods, making it possible for small-scale facilities and municipalities to maintain and operate the system.

Such natural technology-based treatment systems are particularly effective in highly urbanized areas and remote islands and mountainous regions with limited resources. The structure of the floating islands is made of recycled plastic materials, and the structure itself is also characterized by the incorporation of a recycling perspective.

Related Sources

1. The official website of Dowa Eco-System Corporation (Dowa Group) introduces the company's entire environmental recycling business. Although the floating island system "DEKS" itself is not explicitly mentioned, it may have been positioned within the diverse water treatment and resource recycling technologies developed by the company.

There are similar efforts internationally to purify water using floating flower beds, such as the JMS Floating Garden, which introduces a nature-integrated technology that combines landscape and purification.

3. videos of DIY floating island biofilter experiments can be found on YouTube and other sites, providing a means to deepen general understanding of the technical structure and effectiveness of the technology.

This technology was a rare fusion of engineering and nature, and had high educational and social value as a model for a recycling-oriented society and local self-sustaining environmental conservation.