What is a Constructed Wetland?
In brief, a constructed wetland is a water treatment facility. Duplicating the processes occurring in natural wetlands, constructed wetlands are complex, integrated systems in which water, plants, animals, microorganisms and the environment–sun, soil, air–interact to improve water quality. To the extent that what is human-made is artificial–while what is formed by nature is said to be natural–constructed wetlands are artificial wetlands. Whereas geology, hydrology and biology create natural wetlands, constructed wetlands are the result of human skill and technology. Humans design, build and operate constructed wetlands to treat wastewater. Yet to refer to constructed wetlands as purely artificial, human-made or engineered is not entirely accurate and slights their most significant feature. By utilizing, and even attempting to optimize the physical, chemical and biological processes of the natural wetland ecosystem, constructed wetlands also are, to various extents, natural environm
