The use of macrophyte-based systems for phosphorus removal: an overview of 25 years of research and operational results in Florida

Phosphorus (P) removal from wastewaters and surface runoff using macrophyte-based systems (MBS) has been a topic of great interest in Florida for over 25 years. During this period, P removal by both treatment wetlands and floating aquatic macrophyte systems has been evaluated from both a research and operational standpoint. Several factors have contributed to the increased focus on the use of MBS for P removal. First, there exist no conventional technologies that can cost-effectively achieve the low outflow P concentrations required to protect the integrity of Florida's relatively pristine surface waters. Second, because MBSs typically provide some water storage, they can accommodate the wide ranges of flows typical for runoff sources such as agricultural drainage waters. Finally, many regions in Florida have sufficient area for deployment of the relatively land-intensive MBS technologies. The first P removal work in Florida was initiated in the mid-1970s, and involved pilot-scale research on domestic wastewater treatment by natural wetlands. Parallel studies were performed with managed (periodically harvested) floating plant systems (i.e., Eichhornia crassipes) for tertiary treatment. Since that time, the range of operational systems that have been deployed include emergent macrophyte-based and forested wetlands, managed floating plant systems, and submerged macrophyte-based systems. Waters treated by MBS include domestic effluents, agricultural runoff and eutrophic lake waters. Phosphorus removal targets for MBS in Florida have been as low as 10 microg/L. In this paper, we summarize research and operational results for MBS in Florida over the past 25 years.