Sources of Pollution
In order to develop robust wetland treatment systems it is necessary to define and categorize the types of wastewater a system can treat.
- Stormwater – typically runoff of mineral and organic materials with intermittent flows.
- Agricultural Wastewater – runoff from intense agriculture with continous/intermittent flows.
- Industrial Wastewater – runoff and leachates from industrial processes with continuous/intermittent flows.
- Municipal Wastewater – continous flows from residential and commercial sources.
Each of these sources may overlap one another depending on the circumstances.
(source Kadlec and Knight, Treatment Wetlands)
Overview of the Point Sources of Pollution, from European Environmental Agency