Bulkley Valley Research Centre - Science in the Public Interest

Constructed Wetlands and Surface Water Treatment

Wednesday April 26, 2017  12:00pm-1:00pm

The Old Church - Smithers, BC

About this presentation
When precipitation and surface water runoff come in contact with a log storage facility there is a potential for leachate to develop. The impact of leachate often produces poor water quality resulting in an impact on aquatic life. The development of a constructed wetland acts as a large bio-filter that treats the contaminants as they go through the system. This seminar will look at the construction and water quality characteristics of constructed wetlands at two sawmill operations in northwest BC.

About Ray Hollenberg
Ray is the owner of NorthWest Response and Environmental Consulting and has worked on water quality impacts associated with sawmills and wood waste landfills since 1989. In 2008, he worked with a microbiologist to develop a constructed wetland to treat contaminants associated with surface water runoff from a sawmill. After monitoring the water quality for eight years and conducting a four-year impact assessment study, the findings confirm that constructed wetlands are effective in treating the surface effluent to meet water quality standards for the protection of aquatic life.