US EPA

2077335 

Journal Article 

Biogeochemical indicators to evaluate pollutant removal efficiency in constructed wetlands 

Reddy, KR; D'Angelo, EM 

1997 

1 

Water Science and Technology
ISSN: 0273-1223
EISSN: 1996-9732 

IWA Publishing, Alliance House London SW1H 0QS 

BIOSIS/97/18277 

35 

5 

1-10 

English 

10.1016/s0273-1223(97)00046-2 

WOS:A1997WZ52400002 

BIOSIS COPYRIGHT: BIOL ABS. Wetlands support several aerobic and anaerobic biogeochemical processes that regulate removal/retention of pollutants, which has encouraged the intentional use of wetlands for pollutant abatement. The purpose of this paper is to present a brief review of key processes regulating pollutant removal and identify potential indicators that can be measured to evaluate treatment efficiency. Carbon and toxic organic compound removal efficiency can be determined by measuring soil or water oxygen demand, microbial biomass, soil Eh and pH. Similarly, nitrate removal can be predicted by dissolved organic C and microbial biomass. Phosphorus retention can be described by the availability of reactive Fe and Al in acid soils and Ca and Mg in alkaline soils. Relationships between soil processes and indicators are useful tools to transfer mechanistic information between diverse types of wetland treatment systems. 

aquatic macrophytes; decomposition; microbial biomass; nutrient cycling; water quality