Auckland Zoo
Filtration for the Southeast Asia Redevelopment
Project Overview
Working with Jacobs Environmental floating treatment wetland (FTW) islands were installed as part of the water treatment system on the Auckland Zoo’s redevelopment of the Southeast Asia Jungle Track. These wetlands provide final filtration and nitrogen removal while adding a visually stunning feature at the Zoo's main entrance pond.
Auckland Zoo – Southeast Asia Redevelopment
In 2016, Auckland Zoo began the NZD $60 million redevelopment of its Southeast Asia area. This programme of construction and habitat creation sought to create an immersive visitor experience and optimal animal habitats. The South East Asia Jungle Track now covers 20% of the total Zoo visitor area and is a wide considered a huge success *.
A water management program was a strategic part of the masterplan. This sought to reduce waste and mitigated off-site pollution and earned the facilities management team the inaugural Sustainability and Environmental Impact Award in 2021. A saving 26,000 cubic meters of water had been made the previous year.
The water management program includes rainwater harvesting, rain tanks, and leak prevention. Surface runoff and washdown water is collected, filtered, and then discharged into a central pond, which forms part of the visitor attraction at the Zoo entrance. An installation of two floating treatment wetland islands is installed below the elevated walkway. The islands provide a striking visual contrast to the gabion rock walls and NZ tree ferns that surround them and increase the value of this overall entrance area as well as final filtration and nitrogen removal.
*See The Science of Animal Care – The High Canopy (Auckland Zoo)