ABSTRACT
In recent years, increasing production and disposal of wastewaters have caused accelerated eutrophication of many of South Africa’s impoundments, necessitating imposition of stringent effluent nutrient discharge standards. This chapter reports current research designed to provide engineering data on the biological and physiogeochemical constraints of the constructed wet land concept. The Division of Water Technology (DWT) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research initiated a constructed wetland research program in late 1985. Recognizing the inherent cautious approach of design engineers to unproved technologies, a consulting engineering company, Stewart Sviridov & Oliver, is working with DWT to establish guidelines for constructed wetland design implementation. Constructed wetlands have considerable potential in southern Africa for treatment of raw wastewaters emanating from rural communities, for upgrading oxidation pond and secondary effluents to general and special discharge standards, and for treatment of industrial effluents.
