Applications of Constructed Wetlands for Water Pollution Control in Taiwan: Review
Publication: Practice Periodical of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste Management
Volume 12, Issue 4
Abstract
A review of published literature and practical projects of constructed wetlands (CWs) implemented in Taiwan was conducted to highlight wetland performance in wastewater treatment for various applications. Specific opportunities and limitations as well as problems and recommendations for exploring CW technology in Taiwan were also discussed. During the last decade, the number of CWs in Taiwan increased exponentially. Up to 2006, approximately 82 full-scale CWs have been installed and more than ten systems are in construction. The size of CWs ranged from to receive wastewater flow ranging from . Warm climates in Taiwan provide great opportunities for successful wetland treatment. However, high population density forces CWs to be built in limited spaces, leading to emphasis on multiple-use values of CWs from the public. Most of the CWs were promoted under practical projects funded by various governmental organizations to develop diverse applications, such as water quality improvement of polluted surface water bodies, wastewater on-site treatment, and reuse in rural areas, campuses, recreational areas, and green architectures, management of aquaculture water and wastewater, tertiary treatment, and miscellaneous applications. The results of water monitoring obtained from several demonstrations show that CWs achieved acceptable wastewater treatment performances in removing major pollutants, including suspended solids, organic matters, nutrients, and indicating microorganisms from wastewater influent. Several issues should be studied further so as to maximize multiple-use benefits of CWs, which include establishment of a multidisciplinary approach to planning and designing of CWs and devising strategies to obtain consistent financial support for sustaining management of well operated wetland systems.
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Acknowledgments
The writers would like to thank the governmental organizations, including Water and Wastewater Protection Division in Environmental Protection Administration (ROCEPA), Environmental Protection Division in Ministry of Education (MEO), and Land Adjustment Engineering Bureau (LAEB), Taiwan, Republic of China, for kindly providing information on CWs installed and in operation under their funding projects.
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Information
Published In
Practice Periodical of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste Management
Volume 12 • Issue 4 • October 2008
Pages: 249 - 259
Copyright
© 2008 ASCE.
History
Received: Nov 5, 2007
Accepted: Nov 5, 2007
Published online: Oct 1, 2008
Published in print: Oct 2008
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