The greenest green: Vegetation integration

Researchers at Kansas State University (KSU) are investigating the utilization of natural systems for solving environmental problems, including pollution. One 'green' engineering project deals with the sustainability of stormwater management throughout the state's urban centers. Researcher has observed that water quality can be enhanced through the use of vegetated stormwater practices in place of traditional 'hard' engineering approaches. Researchers has developed various vegetated management strategies such as bioretention/bioinfiltration cells, rain gardens, bioswales, vegetated waterways, and vegetated filter strips to reduce pollution and costs associated with water treatment. Researchers are exploring the possibility of using vegetated filter strips for pollutant removal at Fort Riley military base near Manhattan, Kan., KSU is also investigating the role of vegetated systems in the field of remediation such as phytoremediation.