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Table of Contents
Introduction
Introduction
"Constructed wetlands (CWs) are wastewater treatment systems that mimic the purification function of natural wetlands through physical, chemical, and biological processes. As a typical nature-based solution, CWs have been widely applied worldwide for treating various wastewater, including municipal wastewater, domestic sewage, agricultural runoff, industrial wastewater, etc. [1,2]. It is foreseeable that there will be a rapid increase in newly established CWs in the future, especially in developing countries and rural areas, due to their high efficiency of pollutant removal, stable effluent water quality, low investment, and simple maintenance." - Factors Influencing Gaseous Emissions in Constructed Wetlands: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review
Constructed Wetlands
1:08 minute video explains how mimicking wetlands helps protect our environment.
Constructed Wetlands vs Agricultural Pollution
Constructed Wetlands vs Agricultural Pollution
"These “Smart Wetlands” are precisely placed along ditches or small streams on a farm without taking large amounts of prime farmland out of production. They intercept and remove nutrients through a combination of physical, biological, and chemical processes—in the case of nitrogen, transforming it into a harmless gas.
Not only do constructed wetlands remove nitrogen from runoff more efficiently and cost-effectively than almost any other method, they do it within the typical Midwest farm landscape full of drain tiles—underground pipes that quickly carry excess water off the fields. Without drain tiles much of the U.S. Farm Belt would be too wet to grow crops, but they’re also the main way nitrogen enters local waterways.
Scientists from the University of Illinois at Chicago collected and analyzed data from the first few farm-based Smart Wetlands installed by TWI. Early results showed that these wetlands were removing up to 85% of the nitrate from tile drainage, demonstrating just how effective they can be." - The Wetland Initiative
Benefits of Constructed Wetlands
Benefits of Constructed Wetlands
Accessibility & Affordability
Accessibility & Affordability
Unlike industrial waste management options, constructed wetlands can be constructed with heavy duty excavation equipment, or by hand with shovels. This gives the project some wiggle room depending on your budget, access to equipment, and man power constraints.
This options requires a relatively low investment, with some simple maintenance.
Water Pollution Reduction
Water Pollution Reduction
These are highly efficient, nature-based solutions for pollutant removal, providing stable effluent water quality at a lower cost than industrial sewage solutions.
Pesticides
Pesticides
Water Pollution from Livestock
Water Pollution from Livestock
Increased Biodiversity
Increased Biodiversity
Local & Migratory Species
Local & Migratory Species
Waterways
Waterways
Ocean Ecosystems
Ocean Ecosystems
Problems with Constructed Wetlands
Problems with Constructed Wetlands
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
"...Due to the regular influx of pollutants, CWs can release considerable quantities of greenhouse gases (GHGs), ammonia (NH3), and other atmospheric pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S), etc., which will aggravate global warming, degrade air quality and even threaten human health... Polyculture CWs stimulate CH4 emission but pose no influence on N2O emission compared to monoculture CWs. The influent wastewater characteristics (e.g., C/N ratio, salinity) and environmental conditions (e.g., temperature) can also impact GHG emission. The NH3 volatilization from CWs is positively related to the influent nitrogen concentration and pH value. High plant species richness tends to reduce NH3 volatilization and plant composition showed greater effects than species richness. Though VOCs and H2S emissions from CWs do not always occur, it should be a concern when using CWs to treat wastewater containing hydrocarbon and acid." - Factors Influencing Gaseous Emissions in Constructed Wetlands: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review
"The influent wastewater characteristics (e.g., C/N ratio, salinity) and environmental conditions (e.g., temperature) can also impact GHG emission."
"The NH3 volatilization from CWs is positively related to the influent nitrogen concentration and pH value.
Though VOCs and H2S emissions from CWs do not always occur, it should be a concern when using CWs to treat wastewater containing hydrocarbon and acid. This study provides solid references for simultaneously achieving pollutant removal and reducing gaseous emission from CWs, which avoids the transformation of water pollution into air contamination.
Methane
Methane
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous Oxide
This is a particularly powerful greenhouse gas which also causes acid rain. Acid rain not only hurts nearby plants (entire forests!), as well as far of oceans, making the gas a threat to our ocean reefs.
Ammonia
Ammonia
This isn't a particularly strong greenhouse gas, but it negatively impacts the health of humans and wildlife.
Solutions
Solutions
Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Horizontal Subsurface Flow (HSSF)
Horizontal Subsurface Flow (HSSF)
Research has found that "horizontal subsurface flow (HSSF) CWs emit less CH4 and N2O than free water surface flow (FWS) CWs." - Factors Influencing Gaseous Emissions in Constructed Wetlands: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review
Biodiverse Planting in CWs
Biodiverse Planting in CWs
"High plant species richness tends to reduce NH3 volatilization and plant composition showed greater effects than species richness." - Factors Influencing Gaseous Emissions in Constructed Wetlands: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review
Polyculture CWs
Polyculture CWs
"Polyculture CWs stimulate CH4 emission but pose no influence on N2O emission compared to monoculture CWs." - Factors Influencing Gaseous Emissions in Constructed Wetlands: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review
Biochar
Biochar
"The addition of biochar can mitigate N2O emission compared to gravel-based CWs but has the risk of increasing CH4 emission." - Factors Influencing Gaseous Emissions in Constructed Wetlands: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review
Calls to Action
Calls to Action
Outreach & Training
Outreach & Training
Organizations including The Wetland Initiative are "conducting outreach and raising awareness through presentations, training sessions, field events, and agricultural expos.
Today’s farmers are increasingly interested in the latest technology tools available to enhance the wise use and profitability of every acre of their land. TWI’s farmer-focused Smart Wetlands materials offer them precision conservation and scientific data to guide decision-making about constructed wetlands.
Through ag-sector partnerships and the Smart Wetlands brand, TWI is working to spread constructed wetlands throughout the Midwest to improve water quality, both locally and far downstream." - The Wetland Initiative
Projects & Programs
Projects & Programs
Use this section to see what kinds of programs exist in your area, or explore how they can help clean our waters and protect our ecosystems.
North America
North America
USA
USA
Texas
Texas Prairie Wetlands Project (TPWP) "focus on harvested croplands, moist-soil areas, emergent wetlands and other created wetlands to increase biodiversity for waterfowl and other wetland-dependent species. In return, landowners sign a minimum-10-year wetland development agreement and commit to managing and maintaining the wetlands. TPWP works closely with rice producers to improve fields and infrastructure for water conservation, production and habitat management.
Each year, TPWP projects provide critical staging and wintering habitat for thousands of waterfowl, including white-fronted geese, snow geese, northern pintails, green- and blue-winged teal, gadwalls, northern shovelers and redheads. Resident fulvous and black-bellied whistling ducks, as well as mottled ducks, rely heavily on permanent and semi-permanent wetlands for nesting and brood rearing during the spring and summer.
Many landowners utilize TPWP projects for hunting leases and ecotourism. Many sites are also on rice farms, a declining agricultural entity along the Gulf Coast. By working with private landowners to increase and restore wetland habitats, water quality and water quantity an issue of great concern in Texas can be improved."
Resources
Resources
Smart Wetlands "materials offer [farmers] precision conservation and scientific data to guide decision-making about constructed wetlands."
Emission Reduction
Emission Reduction
Factors Influencing Gaseous Emissions in Constructed Wetlands: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review "In this study, we applied meta-analysis to quantitatively review the main influencing factors of GHG emission from CWs; meanwhile, the emissions of NH3, VOCs, and H2S were qualitatively assessed. Meta-analysis indicates that horizontal subsurface flow (HSSF) CWs emit less CH4 and N2O than free water surface flow (FWS) CWs. The addition of biochar can mitigate N2O emission compared to gravel-based CWs but has the risk of increasing CH4 emission. Polyculture CWs stimulate CH4 emission but pose no influence on N2O emission compared to monoculture CWs. The influent wastewater characteristics (e.g., C/N ratio, salinity) and environmental conditions (e.g., temperature) can also impact GHG emission. The NH3 volatilization from CWs is positively related to the influent nitrogen concentration and pH value. High plant species richness tends to reduce NH3 volatilization and plant composition showed greater effects than species richness. Though VOCs and H2S emissions from CWs do not always occur, it should be a concern when using CWs to treat wastewater containing hydrocarbon and acid. This study provides solid references for simultaneously achieving pollutant removal and reducing gaseous emission from CWs, which avoids the transformation of water pollution into air contamination."
Organizations
Organizations
North America
North America
USA
USA
American Farmland Trust (AFT)
Ducks Unlimited (DU) "With more than 80 years of experience in siting, designing, and constructing wetlands, DU is the go-to organization to implement wetland solutions to water quality problems. We have an in-house staff of technical experts versed in wetland and grassland restoration and protection who can design and deliver your project from beginning to end. Our experts understand water rights, water quality regulations and water policy. Our in-house legal counsel can assist with conservation easements and long-term stewardship of water and land resources. We work on public and private lands to restore ecological integrity to wetland and upland landscapes. We do it for waterfowl, but the work benefits us all."
The Wetland Initiative "TWI works with farmers and cropland owners to reduce the flow of nutrients in fertilizer from farm fields into local waterways by installing constructed wetlands."
Illinois
Grants & Funding
Grants & Funding
Europe
Europe
UK
UK
The National Trust: Freshwater Community Grant Fund "Grants of £500 to £5,000 are available for initiatives that create, look after or improve local freshwater habitats and provide opportunities for people to connect with nature."
Related Topics
Related Topics
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