Phosphorus removal in small constructed wetlands dominated by submersed aquatic vegetation in South Florida, USA

Aims: Free-surface flow-constructed wetland is a powerful means forthe reduction of contaminants from agricultural runoff. Wetlandsdominated by submerged aquatic vegetations (SAVs) may take upnutrients, particularly phosphorus (P), from surface flow withhigh efficiency. The objective of this study was to assess Premoval performance by the SAV community under high and lowP concentrations. Methods: Weekly or biweekly inflow and outflow water samples were collectedfrom four small constructed wetlands (test cells) planted withSAV in South Florida, USA, between September 1999 and September2001. These test cells were divided into two groups, with thenorth test cells receiving a higher inflow total phosphorus(TP) concentration (average = 75 µg l^–1) than thesouth test cells receiving a lower TP concentration (average= 23 µg l^–1). Limerock (LR) berms were installedin two of these test cells to allow an evaluation of the efficiencyof this physical barrier to enhance wetland performance. Important findings: North test cells displayed high TP removal of 60% while theremoval efficiency of the south test cells was only 20%. Solublereactive phosphorus concentrations in both north and south testcells were sequestered down to near-detection limit. High removalefficiencies for particulate phosphorus were also observed inthe north test cells. The LR berms at the two test cells werefound to be associated with decreases of an average TP removalof 2 µg l^–1. Outflow TP concentration did not increasewith inflow TP concentration, but increased with nominal hydraulicloading rates. Findings from this study demonstrated high Premoval from inflow water containing high TP concentration bythe SAV wetland and the importance of hydraulic regime to wetlandperformance.