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WASTREAT
in brief |
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Constructed
wetlands are used to treat municipal wastewater treatment (especially in
small communities), to sustainably manage and protect water and soil
resources and to save more water for irrigation and other uses. They mimic
the physicochemical and biological processes of natural wetlands.
Effluents are lead to large specially constructed basins, which are
planted with wetland plants (e.g. reeds). These constructed wetlands have
several advantages over other sophisticated treatment systems. For
example, they do not downgrade the landscape (in certain instances they
upgrade it), they are simpler to construct, they are less costly in
operation and maintenance, and they need less energy inputs.
During
December 1999, the execution of an inter-regional cooperation project has
started. The project will be carried out in Greece and Bulgaria, and it
involves the construction of 2 wetland systems in communities of
Municipality of Exomburgo Tinos (Greece), and 1 system in the Community of
Zvezditsa (Bulgaria), aiming at municipal wastewater treatment and reuse.
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Proposed site
for constructed wetland at Tinos island, Greece |
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AIMS
OF THE PROJECT
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Building constructed wetlands for wastewater
treatment in small communities, promotion of their advantages and
dissemination of such systems in member and non-member states of the
European Union. |
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Training of the project’s partners, on the
operation and monitoring of constructed wetlands. |
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Exchange of experience, and study of the
effectiveness of constructed wetlands under local conditions. |
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Study of the treated wastewater for irrigation
purposes. |
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EXPECTED BENEFITS
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Inter-regional co-operation and dissemination of the
experience on alternative wastewater treatment techniques, gained by
previous research projects in Greece and Germany. |
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Promotion of constructed wetlands as a management
tool for the conservation of water and soil resources. |
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Effective wastewater treatment and reduction of
pathogens. |
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Water saving by the reuse of treated wastewater. |
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Aesthetic improvement of the landscape, by planting
trees and shrubs in the perimetric zone of constructed wetlands and
irrigating those trees and shrubs with treated wastewater. |
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FINANCIAL SOURCE
The three-year project (November
1999-August 2002) is co-financed by the European Commission.
PROJECT
PARTNERS
Greece:
Prefecture of Cyclades (Project Leader), Greek Biotope/
Wetland
Centre (ÅÊÂÕ),
Regional Development Agency of Cyclades, Municipality of
Exomburgo Tinos, Municipality of Amorgos,
Municipality of Ios
Germany:
Municipality of Samtgemeinde Rosche, Community of Bauckhof
Sozialtherapeutiche
Gemeinschft, Planungsburo Burka
Bulgaria:
Municipality of Varna, Community of Zvezditsa, Water Supply/Sewage
Treatment Agency,
Technical University of Varna
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