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We have just finished our last phase of the CEA Wetland Retrofit! Though some have mistaken it for a refrigerator or R2D2 standing in the effluent garden, it really is an air pump made by A.J. Rossman of Draker Solar (www.drakersolar.com), with a design from North American Wetland Engineers (www.nawe-pa.com). Currently it is an AC pump using electricity, but it may be converted to DC and powered by solar panels in the future.
The most efficient microorganisms are like humans–they use oxygen to convert food into energy and biomass. Nitrosomonas (above) for example, is involved in the process of transforming the nitrogen in our urine to a harmless gas. Oxygen can enter into a constructed wetland by the atmosphere and by the special wetland plants that pump air into their roots, where most of the microorganisms live. But many times this just isn’t enough, especially if you have a high load, or high standards, like CEA.
Thank you to all those who helped in this project.
Kate Riley
February 2004
For more information on this project click here.
A Manual of the Operation & Maintenance of Constructed Wetlands click here.
Constructed Wetland Planting Guide click here.
To learn more about constructed wetlands click here.
To learn more about our Advanced Waste Treatment program click here.
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