Officials hope the strategy will help the city meet stricter federal standards that may exist in 1997 when Phoenix is to renew its waste-water discharge permit. The ponds are to be filled with effluent from the plant. Engineers would monitor the water flowing through the ponds to deter mine the effectiveness of the bulrushes to treat wastewater. They especially will be evaluating the plants' ability to absorb such contaminants as trace metals and organics which are expected to be the focus of new federal regulations. Because of their growth patterns bul rushes are considered better adapted to absorb contaminants found in effluent than are other forms of vegetation.
Bulrushes grow as single sprouts several inches apart for each other.
Water therefore is able to flow more readily through bulrushes than through vegetation growing in clumps. Wildlife also is better able to use wetlands vegetated with bulrush. Bulrushes are to be obtained from Kingman which currently uses the plant for wastewater treatment. The effectiveness of bulrushes to treat wastewater in the hotter, drier Phoenix climate will be evaluated. Magma Copper to Pay for Spill Magma Copper Co.