
How do Wetlands perform the equivalent of primary treatment?
Explain how wetlands perform the equivalent of (i) primary treatment, and (1 point: only the first explanation provided can earn points) Physical/mechanical removal/trapping of sediment/solids/objects/particulates through processes such as settling, sedimentation, filtering, and screening. AP®ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 2012 SCORING GUIDELINES
How do primary secondary and tertiary wastewater treatment work?
Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Wastewater Treatment: How Do They Work? 1 Primary Wastewater Treatment. Primary treatment of wastewater involves sedimentation... 2 Secondary Wastewater Treatment. Secondary treatment of wastewater makes use... 3 Tertiary Wastewater Treatment. This third and last step in the basic wastewater management system is...
What percentage of wetlands are considered wastelands?
Wetlands were one considered to be wastelands. Over 50 percent of the US original wetlands have been destroyed. a) Describe TWO characteristics that are used by scientists to define an area as wetland. b) Explain why it takes many hectares of wetland to support a pair of eagles.
What are the different types of wastewater treatment?
1 Primary Wastewater Treatment. Primary treatment of wastewater involves sedimentation of solid waste within the water. ... 2 Secondary Wastewater Treatment. Secondary treatment of wastewater makes use of oxidation to further purify wastewater. ... 3 Tertiary Wastewater Treatment. ...

How Do wetlands perform the equivalent of secondary treatment?
The biological removal of waste in secondary treatment is also done by the wetlands through aerobic consumption.
How can wetlands be used to treat wastewater?
A second cell may be added for more treatment. How is wastewater treated in constructed wetlands? As wastewaters flow through the system, suspended solids and trace metals settle and are filtered. Plants and organic material also absorb trace metals.
How do wetlands provide clean water?
Wetlands can improve water quality by removing pollutants from surface waters. Three pollutant removal processes provided by wetlands are particularly important: sediment trapping, nutrient removal and chemical detoxification.
What kind of primary treatment happens before the water reaches the wetland?
In a constructed wetland system for domestic use, wastewater first flows to a septic tank which acts as a primary treatment system. Here solids are settled. From the septic tank, the effluent flows through a perforated inlet or distribution pipe buried in rock or gravel into vegetated submerged beds.
What is wetland and how is it used for recycling the water?
Constructed wetlands are characterized by biological activities that are higher than those occurring in conventional treatment systems, which convert various pollutants into non-toxic by-products in the wastewater.
What are treatment wetlands?
Treatment wetlands are constructed ecosystems dominated by aquatic plants that use natural processes to remove pollutants. Throughout Florida, the United States, and the world, treatment wetlands provide a cost effective alternative for water and wastewater management.
How does wetland filtration work?
A wetland filtration system, also called a bog, is a natural filter for your pond. Water flows into the bottom of the wetland filter and is pushed upward. It goes up through gravel and plant roots, which filter the water. The rocks and plants remove nutrients algae use to grow.
How are wetlands important for water quality?
Wetlands purify our water They trap sediments and remove pollutants, which helps to purify water. This certainly beats expensive, human-made filtration systems.
How do wetlands help with filtering?
Wetlands as Water Treatment As sediment, excess nutrients and chemicals flow off of the land, wetlands filter the run off before it reaches open water. Nutrients are stored and absorbed by plants or microorganisms. Sediment settles at the bottom after reaching an area with slow water flow.
How do wetlands reduce flooding and erosion?
As flood waters recede, the water is released slowly from the wetland soils. By holding back some of the flood waters and slowing the rate that water re-enters the stream channel, wetlands can reduce the severity of downstream flooding and erosion.
How do constructed treatment wetlands work?
Description. Constructed wetlands are specially designed marshes that receive and remove or filter various types of contaminants that may be present in surface water, groundwater or runoff. They are designed to recreate the structure and function of a natural wetland, to act as a filter or purifier.
Do wetlands prevent flooding?
Wetlands prevent flooding by temporarily storing and slowly releasing stormwater. Wetlands also reduce water flow, thus allowing sediments and associated pollutants to settle out.