Wetland projects developed in Brazil

• Published in: Water science and technology 1999, Vol.40 (3), p.19-25
• Main Authors: Salati, E., Salati, Eneida
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Aquatic plants; Artificial wetlands; Biological and medical sciences; Biological treatment of waters; Biotechnology; Brazil; Capacity; constructed wetland; Crushed stone; Depuration; Drinking water; Environment and pollution; Environmental control; Exact sciences and technology; filtering soil; Filtration; Floodplains; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General purification processes; Gravel; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Institutions; Investment; New technology; Pollution; Purification; rice production; Sanitation; Self purification; Sewage; Sewage treatment; Sewage treatment plants; Soil; Soil filters; Technology; wastewater; Wastewater treatment; Wastewaters; Water conveyance; Water purification; Water shortages; Water supply; Water supply systems; Water treatment and pollution; Wetlands
• ISSN: 0273-1223; 1996-9732
• DOI: 10.1016/S0273-1223(99)00416-3

The first studies with constructed wetlands undertaken in Brazil were the result of observations made from the Amazon flood plains. The first attempt to use this capacity to change the quality of the water, in the sense of purification performed in Brazil using constructed wetland systems, was made by Salati et al. (1982) After that, new technologies were developed in a focused attempt to increase the efficiency of the system and reduce investments. Over these 18 years, persuading the Brazilian scientific community as well as the environmental control agencies to give due attention to this kind of research has required endless efforts. Only in recent years have major institutions responsible for sewage treatment and potable water supply been concerned with this type of technology for solving real problems. These institutions are as follows: SABESP (Basic Sanitation Company of São Paulo State), SANEPAR (Sanitation Company of Paraná State) and CESP (Electric Company of São Paulo State). One of the private institutions that has systematically worked in the design and projects of constructed wetlands is the Institute of Applied Ecology. This institution has enhanced and developed a water depuration system based on the purifying capacity of the soil. The wetlands with filtering soils are systems formed by overlapping layers of crushed stone, gravel and soil planted with rice. This technology has been used in sewage treatment and also in water supply systems