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Pilot-scale constructed bypass channel for urban river restoration: the remedial efficiency and the variance in biodiversity

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Abstract

Like the blood vessels of the cities, urban rivers play a significant role on maintaining the cities’ sustainable development. In addition to the prevention of pollutants discharge and improving the river water quality, the restoration of the urban rivers’ ecosystem should be well concerned. To fill this gap, a pilot-scale study with constructed bypass channel (CBC) was conducted. The pollutants reduction by the aquatic plants of the CBC was evaluated, and the similarities/differences of the aquatic biodiversity between the CBC and the natural rivers were analyzed. The results indicated that the mean removal efficiency of TP, NH3-N, TN, and COD by the CBC was 66%, 60%, 52%, and 36%, respectively. Chlorophyta, Bacillariophyta, and Cyanophyta were the dominant phytoplankton phyla in the CBC which was in accordance with the studies conducted in the Dongjiang River and the Pearl River. During the study period of about 6 months, the population density and the biomass of the phytoplankton and the zooplankton increased over time. The quality of the influent dominated the aquatic organisms’ diversity of the CBC. N-element dominated not only the phytoplankton variability, but also the bacterial species of the CBC. The timber pile and the submerged plant root soil were more suitable for the growth of the functional bacteria; thus, the construction of the river restoration infrastructures should avoid using large-scale cement materials. Overall, the study would improve the understanding of urban river restoration practice and provide guidance for future restoration practice especially from the aquatic ecological perspectives.

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Data Availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from Major Science and Technology Program for Water Pollution Control and Treatment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China, but restrictions apply to the availability of these data, which were used under license for the current study and so are not publicly available. Data are however available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request and with permission of Major Science and Technology Program for Water Pollution Control and Treatment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China.

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Funding

This study was financially supported by the Major Science and Technology Program for Water Pollution Control and Treatment of China (Grant No. 2015ZX07206-006-05).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, 519082, China

    Wei Li & Xiaohong Chen

  2. State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Source Water Management and Technology, Shenzhen Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shenzhen, 518001, China

    Wei Li, Gong Cheng & Zhaoyi Wu

  3. Central South University of Forestry & Technology, Changsha, 410004, China

    Zhaoyi Wu

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  1. Wei Li
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  2. Gong Cheng
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  3. Zhaoyi Wu
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  4. Xiaohong Chen
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Contributions

Li W wrote the manuscript. Cheng G designed the pilot-scale study. Wu Z collected and tested the samples. Chen X reviewed the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Gong Cheng.

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Li, W., Cheng, G., Wu, Z. et al. Pilot-scale constructed bypass channel for urban river restoration: the remedial efficiency and the variance in biodiversity. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 56507–56521 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14628-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14628-5

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