Invitation to the SA SBC June Meeting Natural Wastewater Treatment with Constructed Wetlands. Presented by Dan Schellenberg and Susan Lee Solar. The use of constructed wetlands to treat domestic wastewater from single family residences is a rapidly emerging bio-technology. Micro-wetlands can be permitted in Texas and are relatively low cost and easy to maintain if installed according to certain guidelines. The wetlands seminar on June 23rd will provide a homeowner, installer, or an architect, with guidelines for site evaluation, system design and plant selection and installation to create a low maintenance treatment system.
Plants play an important role in achieving high quality effluent.
Their principal function is to provide additional substrate on which microbial populations attach. Wetlands plants are special in that they transport oxygen from the leaves through the stems to the roots. Some oxygen leaks out of the roots to create an oxidized zone or rhizosphere which enhances chemical and biological reactions that breakdown the waste in the water as it passes through the media and the roots. Both aerobic and anaerobic zones should be constructed for the most complete treatment. Microbes will adapt to each zone and populate the media.