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Constructed Wetland Treatment of Nitrates: Removal Effectiveness and Cost Efficiency
Author(s) -
Collins Alan R.,
Gillies Neil
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
jawra journal of the american water resources association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.957
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1752-1688
pISSN - 1093-474X
DOI - 10.1111/jawr.12145
Subject(s) - environmental science , watershed , wetland , groundwater , nitrate , fertilizer , cost effectiveness , constructed wetland , water quality , environmental engineering , wastewater , streamflow , hydrology (agriculture) , water resource management , ecology , drainage basin , geography , operations management , engineering , geotechnical engineering , cartography , machine learning , computer science , biology
A constructed wetland ( CW ) was strategically placed to treat nitrates in groundwater as part of a watershed‐based farmer engagement process. Using stream water quality data collected before and after installation, this CW was found to reduce stream concentrations of nitrogen from nitrate (NO 3 ‐N) during the growing season by about 0.14 mg/l at mean streamflow, a 17% reduction. Based upon realistic ecological and economic assumptions, about 80 kg of NO 3 ‐N were removed annually by the CW at a cost of around US$30/kg. This per unit cost is at the low range of small wastewater treatment plant costs for nitrates, but higher than the costs of reduced fertilizer application.