Integrated constructed wetlands: water management as a land-use issue, implementing the 'Ecosystem Approach'

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Water Management
• Ecosystem Restoration

Background:

• Growing need for social, economic, and environmental coherence in water management.
• Increasing costs associated with water supply and treatment globally.
• Constructed wetlands gaining acceptance for water management solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of Integrated Constructed Wetlands (ICWs) in a real-world agricultural catchment.
• To demonstrate the benefits of an 'Ecosystem Approach' for sustainable water management.
• To assess the impact of ICWs on water quality, biodiversity, and community relations.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of 16 Integrated Constructed Wetlands mimicking palustrine wetlands.
• Study conducted in a 2,500 ha intensively used agricultural catchment in County Waterford, Ireland.
• Field-scale demonstration assessing multiple ecosystem services.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in water quality observed.
• Increased biodiversity within the catchment.
• Enhanced social amenities and positive acceptance by the local rural community.

Conclusions:

• Integrated Constructed Wetlands provide a viable and effective approach to sustainable catchment management.
• The 'Ecosystem Approach' using ICWs successfully addresses key elements for sustainable water management.
• This field-scale demonstration highlights the broad benefits of integrated water management strategies.