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Constructed Wetlands and Resource Protection

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Wastewater Management and Technologies

Part of the book series: Water and Wastewater Management ((WWWE))

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Abstract

Constructed wetlands can be utilized for treatment of a wide range of water types. They convince among other reasons due to their low-maintenance requirements compared to conventional wastewater treatment plants. On the one hand, CWs can help to clean up and to protect water resources. On the other hand, they pose a potential risk of groundwater pollution due to infiltration of contaminated water. Furthermore, water exchange between surface water in the CW and groundwater can influence removal efficiencies. To detect water exchange, the CW water budget can be used. In literature, a wide range from 3 to 47% of seepage losses can be found. To prevent water exchange and potential groundwater pollution, CW cells should be sealed. Sealing can be done either with artificial or with compacted in-situ soils. A good monitoring system can help to ensure groundwater security in the long term. Clogging reduces the soil pore volume and thus hydraulic conductivity. This phenomenon can limit wastewater infiltration sufficiently but may also lead to decreasing treatment performance. Quantification of water exchange is not trivial. Thus, in this review, exemplary studies are also presented, where exchange between surface water and groundwater took place.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lower Saxony Water Management, Coastal and Nature Protection Agency (Niedersächsischer Landesbetrieb für Wasserwirtschaft, Küsten- und Naturschutz), Bürgermeister-Münchmeyer-Str. 6, 27283, Verden (Aller), Germany

    Elina Domscheit

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  1. Elina Domscheit
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Correspondence to Elina Domscheit .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Environ. Engineering, Davutpasa Campus, Yıldız Technical University, Esenler, Istanbul, Türkiye

    Eyüp Debik

  2. Institute for Ecological and Sustainable Chemistry, TU Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Niedersachsen, Germany

    Müfit Bahadir

  3. Exceed Excellence Centre, Leichtweiß Institute for Hydroengineeri, Braunschweig, Germany

    Andreas Haarstrick

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Domscheit, E. (2023). Constructed Wetlands and Resource Protection. In: Debik, E., Bahadir, M., Haarstrick, A. (eds) Wastewater Management and Technologies. Water and Wastewater Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-36298-9_1

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