Water hyacinth has a fibrous root system known to improve fish and invertebrate habitat by providing extra shade and cover from predators. New studies show that water hyacinth is a valuable bioremediation organism. It is capable of removing large amounts of organic pollutants and reducing deleterious levels of nutrients. Some scientists are considering using water hyacinths in artificial wetlands designed to treat agricultural and human sewage. Nations that consider water hyacinth a pest are involved in aggressive control programs.
Traditional control involves pulling up the plants by hand or by using simple machines.
Obviously, this is not economically feasible in many countries and does not remove all of the plants. Many nations use herbicides such as 2,4-D, diquat ,and copper compounds to control the pest. Herbicide treatments can be more environmentally destructive than the water hyacinth. Unfortunately, the herbicides kill native plants as well as the water hyacinth. Water hyacinth has many beneficial relatives, such as the native pickerelweed, that easily succumb to the herbicide applications.