Subtropical wetlands in Florida significantly reduce urban stormwater nutrient pollution
A wetland system in Naples, Florida was studied to see how well it removes nutrients from stormwater runoff. The wetlands were designed to filter out nitrogen and phosphorus, especially during the rainy season. Over a year, the wetlands reduced phosphorus levels by 55% and nitrogen levels by 26%. Even during heavy rain events, the wetlands were effective at removing nutrients. The system works well year-round, with sedimentation and plant uptake playing key roles in nutrient removal. This study shows that created wetlands can be a successful way to clean up urban stormwater before it reaches natural ecosystems.