How goldfish could save cities from flooding

Scholz, M; Kazemi-Yazdi, S

Abstract

Recently, there has been wide national (various British newspapers) and even international (German radio) public interest in Scottish experiments that introduce Carassius auratus (common goldfish) into sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS), which have been applied to combat flooding. Moreover, dog faeces were added to these systems to simulate contaminated urban runoff. The purpose of this novel and timely research is to increase public acceptance of zero discharge infiltration ponds, and to control algal growth with C. auratus. Findings show that C. auratus improve most water quality variables after their introduction to planted and unplanted infiltration ponds despite deterioration of virtually all common inflow water quality variables based on an annual comparison. Public interest is high because the study captures the imagination of the urban population facing recurrent flooding problems in autumn in low‐lying areas, and the nuisance of dog excrements despite of new regulations to scoop up droppings.

Citation

Scholz, M., & Kazemi-Yazdi, S. (2005). How goldfish could save cities from flooding. International Journal of Environmental Studies, 62(4), 367-374. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207230500197078

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2005
• Deposit Date: Jul 19, 2011
• Journal: International Journal of Environmental Studies
• Print ISSN: 0020-7233
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 62
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 367-374
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00207230500197078
• Keywords: Algae, dog, faeces, goldfish, pond, sustainable urban drainage systems
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00207230500197078