Utilizing water level draw-down to remove excess organic matter in a constructed treatment wetland.

Constructed treatment wetlands are commonly used to enhance surface water nutrient removal following traditional wastewater treatment. However, the constant inflow may necessitate continuous wetland inundation, leading to persistent anaerobic conditions and the accumulation of organic matter (OM) as suspended detrital flocculent (floc) and soil OM. This study investigated if temporary water level draw-down (WLDD) could promote OM consolidation and oxidation without impacting nutrient removal efficiency.

Alum application to improve water quality in a municipal wastewater treatment wetland.

Nutrient removal in treatment wetlands declines during winter months due to temperature. A 3-mo (wintertime) mesocosm study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of alum in immobilizing P as well as other nutrients during this period of reduced treatment efficiency. Eighteen mesocosms, triplicate alum, and three controls or no alum were established with either Typha spp.

The short-term effects of prescribed burning on biomass removal and the release of nitrogen and phosphorus in a treatment wetland.

Nutrient removal by constructed wetlands can decline over time due to the accumulation of organic matter. A prescribed burn is one of many management strategies used to remove detritus in macrophyte-dominated systems. We quantified the short-term effects on effluent water quality and the amount of aboveground detritus removed from a prescribed burn event.

Rerating capacity of a constructed wetland treatment system.

The 482-hectare (ha) City of Orlando (Florida) Easterly Wetlands (OEW) was designed to reduce nutrient concentrations in 0.90 m3/s of wastewater from the Iron Bridge Regional Water Reclamation Facility. Design influent nutrient concentrations were 6 mg/L total nitrogen (TN) and 0.

Achieving empowerment through information.

Despite the problems we encountered, which are not uncommon with the development and implementation of any data system, we are confident that our success in achieving our goals is due to the following: establishing a reliable information database connecting several related departments; interfacing with registration and billing systems to avoid duplication of data and chance for error; appointing a qualified Systems Manager devoted to the project; developing superusers to include intensive training in the operating system (UNIX), parameters of the information system, and the report writer. We achieved what we set out to accomplish: the development of a reliable database and reports on which to base a variety of hospital decisions; improved hospital utilization; reliable clinical data for reimbursement, quality management, and credentialing; enhanced communication and collaboration among departments; and an increased profile of the departments and staff. Data quality specialists, Utilization Management and Quality Management coordinators, and the Medical Staff Credentialing Supervisor and their managers are relied upon by physicians and administrators to provide timely information.