Constructed wetlands system, treatment apparatus and method

Abstract

A system, apparatus and method for treating water in a landscape pond so as to enhance the water clarity, where the water to be treated is delivered to a treatment pond to reduce the particulate matter and nutrient level of the water. The treatment pond includes a nutrient level reducing vegetation, facultative bacteria, substrate material for the bacteria (usually gravel) and a treatment apparatus. The treatment apparatus includes a generally vertically disposed hollow and cylindrical stack formation which extends between the treatment pond bottom and surface and defines at least one (1) coupling construction. At least one (1) elongated and generally horizontally disposed water disbursing module is positioned on the pond bottom and coupled to the stack formation. The disbursing module includes a flat bottom, an arcuate upper surface having a plurality of exit apertures therein and a pair of end formations, all of which define a passageway. In operation water flows from the decorative pond into the disbursing module. There due to geometry and pressure and velocity differences, particulate matter separates from the water and is deposited on to the disbursing module bottom and stack bottom. Water exits the exit apertures and travels through the substrate or gravel, is exposed to the nutrient level reducing vegetation and facultative bacteria and then returns to the decorative pond. The stack is provided with a sealing and removable cover which permits access to the stack bottom so as to remove sediment and particulate matter which has collected in the disbursing module bottom and/or stack bottom.

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       15 . A method of treating water in a pond to reduce the nutrient level and reduce the particulate matter level in the water which comprises the steps of; 
 providing a pond;    providing a wetlands zone associated with the pond which includes nutrient level reducing vegetation, facultative bacteria, substrate material for the bacteria, and a treatment apparatus which includes a stack and a disbursing module with a plurality of exit apertures;    receiving water to be treated in the module;    causing water to be treated to flow through the module so as to cause particulate matter to deposit from the water into the module whereby particulate and sediment matter within the water separates from the water;    causing water to exit the exit apertures and flow through the substrate and be exposed to the nutrient level reducing vegetation and bacteria;    causing water which has been treated to exit the wetlands zone and flow to the pond;    whereby, the nutrient level and particulate level of the water exiting the wetlands zone pond is less than the water entering the wetlands zone and the clarity of water is increased.    
   
   
       16 . A method as in  claim 15  wherein water within the module is at a substantially lower pressure and velocity as compared to the pressure and velocity of water received by the module.  
   
   
       17 . A method as in  claim 15  wherein there is provided a conduit connected to the disbursing module for directing water to the module and wherein the volume of water flow in the conduit and the disbursing module is substantially similar but both the water pressure and the water velocity in the module is substantially less than in the conduit.  
   
   
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       21 . A method for treating pond water so as to separate particulate matter therein and reduce nutrient levels therein comprising: 
 providing a nutrient level reducing zone which includes bacteria, vegetation and substrate material;    providing a particulate material separation site operatively associated with said nutrient level reducing zone;    causing pond water to flow to the particulate matter separation site;    receiving the flowing pond water at the particulate matter separation site and substantially reducing the pressure and velocity of pond water entering the site so as to promote separation of particulate matter;    directing water from which particulate matter has been separated to the nutrient level reducing zone; and    exposing directed water entering the nutrient level reducing zone to said bacteria, vegetation and substrate material so as to reduce the nutrient levels in the water.    
   
   
       22 . A method as in  claim 21  which further includes collecting separated particulate matter.  
   
   
       23 . A method as in  claim 22  which further includes causing water from which particulate matter has been removed and nutrient levels reduced to exit the nutrient level reducing zone.  
   
   
       24 . A method as in  claim 23  wherein there is provided a decorative pond and a water oxygenating feature, said method including causing water exiting the nutrient level reducing zone to flow to the water oxygenating feature and thereform to the decorative pond.  
   
   
       25 . A method as in  claim 24  wherein the water oxygenating feature is a waterfall.  
   
   
       26 . A method as in  claim 21  wherein the particulate matter separation site is positioned in the nutrient level reducing zone.  
   
   
       27 . A method as in  claim 21  wherein there is provided a decorative pond and pond water to be treated is located therein.  
   
   
       28 . A method as in  claim 27  wherein there is provided a wetlands zone which includes the nutrient level reducing zone.  
   
   
       29 . A method as in  claim 28  wherein there is provided a unitary decorative pond and a wetlands zone.  
   
   
       30 . A method as in  claim 21  wherein said bacteria is facultative bacteria.  
   
   
       31 . A method as in  claim 21  wherein the pressure of water entering the particulate treatment site is reduced by about 90%.  
   
   
       32 . A method as in  claim 21  wherein the velocity of water entering the particulate matter separation site is reduced by about 90%.  
   
   
       33 . A method as in  claim 21  wherein the pressure and the velocity of water entering the particulate matter separation site are each reduced by about 90%.  
   
   
       34 . A method as in  claim 21  wherein the particulate matter separation site defines a restriction through which water entering the site flows, and the cross-sectional area of the restriction is about 10% of the cross-sectional area of that portion of the site downstream of the restriction.  
   
   
       35 . A method for treating pond water so as to separate particulate matter therefrom and reduce the nutrient levels thereof comprising: 
 providing a decorative pond which contains pond water to be treated;    providing a wetlands zone for nutrient level reducing, which zone includes facultative bacteria, vegetation and substrate material;    providing a particulate matter separation site;    providing a water oxygenating feature;    causing pond water to flow from the decorative pond to the particulate matter separation site;    receiving the pond water at the particulate matter separation site and substantially reducing the pressure and velocity of pond water entering the site so as promote separation of particulate matter;    collecting said particulate matter;    directing water from which particulate matter has been separated to the nutrient level reducing zone;    exposing water in the nutrient level reducing zone to said facultative bacteria, vegetation and substrate material so as to reduce the nutrient levels in the water;    causing water from which particulate matter has been removed and having reduced levels to flow to the water oxygenating feature; and    causing oxygenated water to flow to the decorative pond.    
   
   
       36 . A method of treating water so as to separate particulate matter therein comprising: 
 providing a particulate matter separation site;    causing water to flow to the particulate matter separation site;    substantially reducing the pressure and velocity of the water entering the particulate matter separation site, so as to promote separation of particulate matter at said site.    
   
   
       37 . A method as in  claim 36  wherein there is further provided a nutrient level reducing zone which includes bacteria, vegetation and substrate materials; 
 said method including directing water from with the particulate matter has been removed, to the nutrient level reducing zone; and    exposing water in the nutrient level reducing zone to the bacteria, vegetation and substrate material, so as to reduce the nutrient levels in the water.    
   
   
       38 . A method as in  claim 36  wherein there is further provided a water oxygenating feature and said method includes directing water that has been treated so as to reduce particulate matter and nutrient levels to the water oxygenating feature.