Improving the hydraulic performance of constructed wetlands for net zero wastewater treatment

The UK water industry has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. As part of this, low energy, low carbon treatment processes are being implemented for small sewage work. Constructed wetlands (CWs) have been for over two decades around the world to deliver sustainable sewage treatment, and fit perfectly with these new environmental drivers. Understanding the long-term maintenance requirements of these systems and minimising the whole life cost and carbon is essential for their successful implementation.

The Sponsor has developed an innovative method to regenerate the treatment capacity in mature horizontal subsurface flow wetlands, enabling remediation activities to take place in short time frames and without the addition of chemicals or biological agents. This strategy has been tested and evaluated by the Sponsor in a limited number of full-scale horizontal flow CWs, and the Sponsor is interested in validating the method in UK systems. Partnerships with UK CW users will be used to test this innovation at full scale.