Constructed Wetlands

The Center for Clean Water Technology is currently exploring constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment. The current installations being tested are:

(1) A large scale recirculating gravel filter at Sylvester Manor, Shelter Island, New York

(2) A series of two-stage Vegetated Recirculating Gravel Filters followed by denitrifying media columns

Additional laboratory bench-scale experiments are conducted using novel sensors and optodes to further clarify nitrogen removal pathways in constructed wetlands. The following is a 2D image of the oxygen distribution around roots of common wetland plant Typha latifolia. These images show oxygen concentrations vary with increasing distance from roots. The red colors indicate higher oxygen concentrations and the purple colors indicate anoxic (no oxygen) conditions.