The Role of Constructed Wetlands as Green Infrastructure for Sustainable Urban Water Management

• Published in: Sustainability 2019-12, Vol.11 (24), p.6981
• Main Author: Stefanakis, Alexandros
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Artificial wetlands; Clean technology; Climate change; Concrete; Ecosystem services; Ecosystems; Emissions; Environmental economics; Environmental protection; Flood management; Flood protection; Floods; Green infrastructure; Greenhouse gases; Habitats; Infrastructure; Landscaping; Runoff; Storm runoff; Stormwater; Stormwater management; Sustainability; Urban areas; Urban environments; Urban runoff; Waste management; Wastewater management; Wastewater treatment; Water management; Water quality; Water storage; Water treatment; Water treatment plants; Wetlands; Wildlife; Wildlife habitats; Wildlife management; Wildlife refuges
• ISSN: 2071-1050; 2071-1050
• DOI: 10.3390/su11246981

Nowadays, it is better understood that the benefits of green infrastructure include a series of ecosystem services, such as cooling, water storage and management, recreation and landscaping, among others. Green technologies are still developing to provide sustainable solutions to the problems that modern cities and peri-urban areas face at an ever-increasing rate and intensity. Constructed wetlands technology is an established green multi-purpose option for water management and wastewater treatment, with numerous effectively proven applications around the world and multiple environmental and economic advantages. These systems can function as water treatment plants, habitat creation sites, urban wildlife refuges, recreational or educational facilities, landscape engineering and ecological art areas. The aim of this article is to highlight the synergies between this green technology and urban areas in order to reconnect cities with nature, to promote circularity in the urban context and to apply innovative wetland designs as landscape infrastructure and water treatment solutions. This approach could be a step further in the effort to mitigate the current degradation process of the urban landscape. Following the concept of green infrastructure, the article presents and suggests ways to integrate wetland technology in the urban environment, namely: (i) stormwater and urban runoff management (storage and treatment of water during storm events) to provide protection from flood incidents, especially considering climate change, (ii) innovative low-impact infrastructure and design solutions for urban wastewater treatment, and (iii) wetland technology for habitat creation and ecosystem services provision.