| A study was conducted to assess the efficiency of a constructed wetland for sediment and nutrient removal from a riverine source containing non-point source pollution (NPS) in a Nordic climate. The constructed wetland, built near the town of Mystic, Southern Québec, consists of a sedimentation basin, a sinuous subsurface horizontal flow section and an open water body or pond that continuously receives up to 5% of Walbridge Creek. Flow into and through the system is controlled by gravity. There is a gate on the intake structure, which allows inflow into the wetland to be adjusted, along with three composite weirs; located at the outlet of each section of the wetland. Water samples were analyzed for orthophosphates (PO4), dissolved phosphorus (DP), total phosphorus (TP), ammonium (NH4+) and nitrates (NO3-) The study occurred from May to December 2003 and from May to December 2004. In 2003, there was a 33.6% reduction in TP load from intake to outlet with a retention rate of 2.23 g m-2 year-1. The greatest reduction in TP load during 2003 took place during the summer months (32.2%). In 2004, there was a further reduction of 42.8% in TP load from intake to outlet with a retention rate of 1.56 g m-2 year-1 compared to 2003. The largest reduction in TP load during the operational year of 2004 took place during the summer months (43.7%). Within the wetland, both the submerged flow section and open water basin showed similar and significant reductions of TP load in 2003 and 2004 annually and seasonally. Both annually and seasonally in 2003, NO3- showed no significant decrease in load from intake to outlet or within portions of the wetland. In 2004, there was a 22% annual load reduction from intake to outlet with a retention rate of 43.9 g m-2 year-1. The largest reduction in NO3- load during 2004 took place during the summer months (25.6%). Within the wetland, the submerged flow section showed the greatest reduction in NO3- concentrations annually and during the summer months of 2004. These results confirm the range of treatment efficiencies that can be achieved using a constructed wetland for NPS pollution in a Nordic climate. |
