University of Tasmania
Browse

File(s) under permanent embargo

Artificial wetland and forest buffer zone: hydraulic and tracer characterization

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 12:34 authored by Passeport, E, Tournebize, J, Jankowfsky, S, Bernadette ProemseBernadette Proemse, Chaumont, C, Coquet, Y, Lange, J
As part of a European LIFE ArtWET project, two on-site buffer zones, an artificial wetland and a forest plot, are being evaluated for their capacity to mitigate pesticide pollution. As treatment efficiency is highly dependent on the systems' hydrology, the present work focuses on the watershed and both systems' hydrological functioning. The design strategy involved limited inlet flow rates to 70 L s−1: 99% of watershed outlet flow rates were lower than this limit. Approximately half of the flows of greatest concern passed through the artificial wetland, whereas the forest only received 2% of these flows. A tracer experiment was conducted under a low steady flow rate while little vegetation was present in the artificial wetland. A water dye tracer (sulforhodamine B, SB) and two molecules of contrasting properties, uranine (Ur, photodegrading) and isoproturon (mobile and only slightly sorptive, IPU) were injected. Dilution, sorption, and photodegradation were observed. The forest plot, which presented a high organic matter content, showed more sorption (IPU, SB) but lower photodecay (Ur) than did the artificial wetland. Total IPU losses in the forest buffer were high (79%). In the artificial wetland, 30% IPU losses were found, whereas a 66.5-h mean retention time was determined and good hydraulic efficiency (0.55) was calculated. Few dead zones and short-circuits were found, suggesting good hydrological functioning. Implementing buffer zones in subsurface pipe-drained watersheds actively participates in the reduction of pesticide transfer to natural water bodies.

History

Publication title

Vadose Zone Journal

Volume

9

Pagination

73-84

ISSN

1539-1663

Department/School

School of Natural Sciences

Publisher

Soil Science Society of America

Place of publication

United States

Rights statement

Copyright 2010 Soil Science Society of America

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Assessment and management of benthic marine ecosystems

Usage metrics

    University Of Tasmania

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC