Roland Wass sees it as the future of wastewater treatment. Wass is a doctoral student at ASU and project manager for the Tres Rios Demonstration Project. The project is designed to study the use of wetlands as areas in which to treat household wastewater.
Scientists define a wetland as being a large swampy or marshy environment with lots of vegetation.
Many animals and insects also depend on these habitats. Tres Rios is an 11-acre wetland that actually is a part of the Phoenix municipal wastewater treatment plant located on 91st Avenue. Wass works with ASU's Peter Fox, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering. They are trying to demonstrate the use of bacteria in the wetland as a means to provide advanced treatment for household wastewater. Wastewater includes basic household waste coming from sinks, toilets, or washing machines.