THE LEGAL BACKGROUND PERTAINING TO THE INSTALLATION AND OPERATION OF CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS IN HUNGARY

It has been proven that constructed wetlands can efficiently treat the sewage water of smaller agglomerations or of facilities which do not have waste water collecting systems. The use of extensive waste water treatment systems could be especially significant in Hungary, since three-fourths of the Hungarian settlements are too small for the building of a separate waste water collecting and treatment system in a cost effective manner, and long distances between the settlements do not allow the collection and conduction of the waste water from multiple settlements to a central system. The other problem with the long distances is that the waste water may rot in the pipes. In these cases constructed wetlands provide a good alternative, treating the waste water in an adequate manner, matching the emission limit values as specified in the laws. Extensive waste water treatment is an environmentally friendly and available way to treat the domestic waste water in smaller settlements.