A field experiment showed that numbers of Escherichia coli declined significantly when floating Lemna spp. plants were removed to create open water areas in a typical newly constructed surface flow treatment wetland in southern Ontario. It is suggested that E. coli declined immediately after Lemna removal because the Lemna was shading the water column from penetration by natural UV radiation, it was providing favourable attachment sites for the E. coli, and it was not allowing effective free exchange of oxygen from surface winds to the water column to maintain high enough dissolved oxygen supplies for predator zooplankton populations. Operators of wetland systems must have the specialized skills required to recognize the cause and the appropriate maintenance requirements to maintain efficient operation of such unconventional systems should E. coli numbers increase during the course of operation.
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Research Article|
June 01 2006
Escherichia coli control in a surface flow treatment wetland
M. E. MacIntyre;
M. E. MacIntyre
1Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3G1
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B. G. Warner;
2Wetlands Research Centre, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3G1
E-mail: [email protected]
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R. M. Slawson
R. M. Slawson
3Department of Biology, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3C5
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J Water Health (2006) 4 (2): 211–214.
Citation
M. E. MacIntyre, B. G. Warner, R. M. Slawson; Escherichia coli control in a surface flow treatment wetland. J Water Health 1 June 2006; 4 (2): 211–214. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2006.0017
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