Article from the Water Industry Journal

Constructed wetlands could successfully deliver a natural alternative to chemically treating wastewater before it is returned to the environment, according to the pioneering project by Wessex Water.

The company’s unique 0.8 hectare wetland site at Cromhall Water Recycling Centre started operating last year to ensure water quality and ecology in nearby Tortworth Brook was protected and enhanced.

The investigation into the effectiveness of the rural South Gloucestershire site – the first of its kind in the water industry designed to remove phosphorus from sewage effluent – assessed how the wetland removed nutrients, organic pollutants and chemicals and delivered biodiversity enhancement following its construction.

Findings revealed that such wetlands can keep the concentration of phosphorus in effluent within permitted limits. Further ongoing academic research demonstrates that the wetlands also help to effectively remove microplastics and more than 70 per cent of some compounds from the water, and reduced bacteria released into the environment by more than 95 per cent.

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