Water Saving Week 2026 – Showcasing Marine Habitat Restoration with Biomatrix

Protect Water for Wildlife is this year’s Water Saving Week theme championed by Waterwise, with the campaign revolving around understanding the direct connection between the water we use every day and the health of our natural world.

This is why we are showcasing RSE subsidiary company, Biomatrix Water Solutions, which designs, manufactures, and installs floating wetland ecosystems to restore riparian habitats without terraforming the landscape. As well as working to integrate nature-based solutions into water treatment and wastewater treatment solutions.

River Clyde Floating Ecosystems Case Study

In a collaborative project between the Glasgow Science Centre and Glasgow University, Biomatrix was engaged to design, manufacture and install three floating ecosystem islands in the Catering Basin with a total area of 192m².

With no natural embankment across a 4m tidal range, the basin creates a challenging habitat for wildlife to naturally flourish. The project’s aim was to bring life back to a part of the historic shipyard docks on the River Clyde. 

Key outcomes from the project:

• 2,000 native aquatic plants added to the basin.
• In a short three months of the floating wetlands being installed, swans had started to nest on the islands.
• Kingfishers and otters were also spotted, which was an uncommon occurrence for such an exposed basin, showing their potential to reintroduce species back into River Clyde.
• Project was awarded Peel Ports’ first-ever Group Marine Environmental Award.
• The islands not only act as a habitat for marine species, but a living laboratory for students at Glasgow University and increasing blue-green spaces for local residents and tourists.

This case study highlights how precious our water systems are. Historic shipbuilding on the River Clyde had depleted the river of biodiversity and blue/green spaces due to the industrial, concrete-heavy infrastructure, however Biomatrix’s capabilities is bringing these spaces back to life.

To learn more about Biomatrix Water’s floating ecosystems and other natural water treatment solutions, click here: Bringing Water To Life – Biomatrix