Applications of Constructed Wetlands for Water Pollution Control in Taiwan: Review

• Published in: Practice periodical of hazardous, toxic, and radioactive waste management toxic, and radioactive waste management, 2008-10, Vol.12 (4), p.249-259
• Main Authors: Jing, Shuh-Ren, Lin, Ying-Feng, Shih, Kai-Chung, Lu, Hung-Wei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquaculture; TECHNICAL PAPERS
• ISSN: 1090-025X; 1944-8376
• DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)1090-025X(2008)12:4(249)

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 60 m2 to 80 ha to receive wastewater flow ranging from 3 to 50,000 m3 ∕day . 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.