Performance of Shi-hwa Constructed Wetland for the treatment of severely polluted stream water

시화호 인공습지를 이용한 오염된 하천의 수질 정화

A prototype of 76 ha Shi-hwa constructed wetland was constructed for the first time in Korea to purify severely polluted stream water. Hydrology, vegetation(macrophyte) and water quality for Banwol and Donghwa wetland built in Shi-hwa tidal reclaimed area were monitored to evaluate the performance of the wetlands. The overall efficiency for the treatment of polluted stream water using the wetlands showed no significant improvement. The monthly average removal rates on SS, BOD, TN and TP for Banwol and Donghwa wetlands showed 66.5% and 62.8%, 14.8 and 34.3%, 33.9 and 47.1% and 20.8 and 51.6%, respectively. It is considered that three major factors, ie. wide fluctuations in inflow rate, short hydraulic retention time and small open area compared with vegetated area could have a great influence on low system efficiency.