Aerating wetlands boosts pollutant removal rates, improving water quality significantly.
The study tested different ways to add oxygen to a wetland to clean up pollutants like ammonia and organic matter. They found that aerating the front and back of the wetland improved pollutant removal. Aeration in the front helped remove ammonia and organic matter, while aeration in the back mainly helped with organic matter. Aeration in the back was more efficient in terms of oxygen use and energy. When the wetland had a certain amount of water flowing through it, it could handle a good amount of pollutants.