Metals Metals are readily circulating in our environment and food supply, and hence in our wastewater, even in human waste. The major sources of metal contamination, however, are from industrial waste. Metals and other toxic substances found in our water can accumulate in aquatic organisms, mammals, birds, reptiles and humans. Although designed ecosystems often work better to remove such substances from wastewater than conventional wastewater treatment systems, the objective remains to keep such toxic elements out of the wastewater stream. Wetland fill and plants gradually accumulate metals which attach to soil or organic particles.
Some plants are particularly suited to taking up and storing metals.
Sediment Particles will cloud water preventing light and oxygen from reaching aquatic life. Sediment may settle out in a holding tank or be filtered out by coarse wetland fill and plants.