Strategic Engineering Framework for Water Quality Resilience: Synergizing Passive Tidal Flushing with Active Ecological Interventions in Urban Canals
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Urban micro-tidal canals frequently suffer from severe hypoxia due to restricted hydrodynamic exchange and untreated discharges. Field monitoring during a 2022 mass fish mortality event at the Dongsam tidal canal revealed that during the ‘tidal window gap’—a hydraulic stagnation period required for passive tidal flushing—bottom-layer dissolved oxygen plummeted to a critical anoxic state (0.44 mg/L). To overcome passive tidal exchange limitations, this study proposes a hybrid water purification framework integrating active ecological interventions: wall-mounted spiral flow aeration for continuous oxygenation and vertical bio-curtains for pollutant interception. Synergizing fluid mechanics with ecological engineering, core design parameters were systematically derived: effective mixing width (Weff≈2.5h), longitudinal spacing (Ls = 10 × Weff), optimal root immersion ratio (Dr/h = 0.6), and climate-adaptive planting densities (ρp≈12–32 plants/m2). Additionally, a corrosion-resistant FRP guide rail system was incorporated to facilitate autonomous adaptation to tidal fluctuations. The framework was conceptualized through a prototype design for the Dongsam canal and subsequently scaled to 15 international micro-tidal canals across diverse climatic zones. Ultimately, this research presents a comprehensive methodological framework and a flexible engineering toolkit intended to guide future water quality and ecological resilience enhancements in shallow urban waterways worldwide.
DOI: 10.3390/jmse14080731
Language: English
Subfield: Waste Management and Disposal
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,137
Awards: G4027755287, G5318744063
OpenAlex ID: W7154476820