Deep in the reeds: Australian scientists put dollar figure on floating wetlands’ global water quality savings

Chistopher Walker (left) and Simon Beecham co-authored a study into the use of artificial floating wetlands to improve water quality in wastewater systems. Photograph: David Kelly/The Guardian

As the plants are pulled out of one of the cells of their floating pod, the long and thin roots are covered with slime.

“This is what you want,” says Chris Walker, an environmental engineer who is struggling to keep hold of the weight of the clump of reeds.