Constructed wetlands: borrowing a concept from nature.

Constructed wetlands: borrowing a concept from nature.

Remediation in Constructed Wetlands

Constructed wetlands are in use to improve the quality of contaminated groundwaters at many sites in the USA. Target contaminants include both organic and inorganic constituents. Volatile and nonvolatile hydrocarbons are found in ground water at closed petroleum refinery sites, and in leachates from landfills. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are pollutants at many sites. Chlorinated organics o...

Chapter 20 - Constructed Wetlands

Wetlands have been recognized as a natural resource throughout human history. Their importance in their natural state is appreciated by such people as the Marsh Arabs around the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in southern Iraq, as well as in managed forms (e.g., rice paddies, particularly in Southeast Asia) (Mitsch and Gosselink, 2000). The water purification capability of wetland...

Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment: A Review

The first experiments on the use of wetland plants to treat wastewaters were carried out in the early 1950s by Dr. Käthe Seidel in Germany. The first full scale systems were put in operation during the late 1960s and since then constructed wetland systems have been spreading throughout the world. At present, there are several types of constructed wetlands used for wastewater treatment. Free wat...

Recirculating Vertical Flow Constructed Wetlands

In parts of the United States where soils are very permeable, conventional septic tank and absorption field systems are considered the largest contributor to waterborne disease and pollution of water bodies. However, an economical, recirculating vertical flow (RVF) constructed wetland, used as a pretreatment system, can significantly improve the performance of conventional onsite wastewater tre...