Author(s)

T. Mauring, Ü. Mander, V. Kuusemets & M. Öövel

Abstract

Efficiency of wastewater treatment wetlands in Estonia T. Mauring '•*, U. Mander ', V. Kuusemets ' & M. Oovel' Institute of Geography, University of Tartu, Estonia *J ^^ Center for Ecological Engineering Tartu, Estonia Abstract In Estonia many natural/seminatural wetlands have been used for municipal or farm wastewater. During the last decade more than 20 constructed wetlands for wastewater purification were established. In this paper budgets of organic matter (BOD), total N and total P of five systems (a sand/plant filter with vertical flow, a combined overland flow-subsurface flow system on a Phalanx amndinacea- slope, an aquatic macrophyte channel - a bioditch, a two-chamber horizontal-flow sand-plant filter, and a free surface water system as a cascade of 4 serpentine ponds with macrophytes) located in southern Estonia, are analyzed. Except for nitrogen, the efficiency of the vertical flow sand/plant filter was found satisfactory: 82%,

Keywords