Pilot Plant
Type	Vertical Subsurface Flow, 12 mesocosms
Surface area	1 m²
Hydraulic Loading	0.05 m³/m².day (in 2 pumping cycles per day)
Filtration Column	0.8 m
Filtration Materials	10 x coarse sand; 1 x gravel 2/12; 1 x Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate
Vegetation	Phragmites australis, Miscanthus floridulus, Sparganium erectum, Scirpus lacustris, Iris pseudacorus, Eriophorum angustifolium, Carex riparia, unplanted control
Type	Horizontal Subsurface Flow, 2 mesocosms, second stage after VSSF
Surface area	1.5 m²
Depth	0.5 m (water level)
Length x Width	2.5 m x 0;6 m
Filtration Materials	Gravel 2/12
Vegetation	Phragmites australis, Carex pendula

"Expanded clay and lava rock as potential filter media for nutrient removal in vertical subsurface flow constructed wetlands" Rob Van Deun, Mia Van Dyck SWS Society of Wetland Scientists European Chapter Meeting, 29th June - 3rd July 2008, Kuressaare, Saaremaa, Estonia

"Coco products and peat as potential filter media for nutrient removal in vertical subsurface flow constructed wetlands" Rob Van Deun, Mia Van Dyck IWA  WETLAND 2008 11th International Conference on Wetland Systems for Water Pollution Control, November 1-7, Indore, India

"On-site wastewater treatment in Flanders,  opportunities and threats for constructed wetlands" Mia Van Dyck, Rob Van Deun IWA Decentralized Water and Wastewater International Network (DEWSIN), Kathmandu, Nepal 2009

Research objective: To develop and test strategies to reduce the N- and P-content in wastewater using different types of constructed wetlands. Methods: This research looks at the possibilities of different plant species, different filter materials and different types of constructed wetlands to improve the reduction of the nutrient content in wastewater. A pilot plant is fed with domestic wastewater. The inluent and the different effluents are examined for pH, conductivity, NH4+-N, NO3--N, total P, BOD and COD. A water balance will be made for each constructed wetland. Meterological data will be collected. The development of the vegetation will be evaluated. Expected results: This research should lead to a set of conditions that can be used to optimize the nutrient removal in wastewater using constructed wetlands.