Treatment Wetlands for Multiple Functions: Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Palm Beach County, Florida

The Wakodahatchee Wetlands (‘created waters’, in the language of the Seminole Indians) were constructed by the Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department (PBCWUD) in 1996 as a demonstration of the beneficial reuse of reclaimed water. The hydrology and water quality of the wetlands were monitored extensively by the County during the first two years. Preliminary estimates of removal rates for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) are within the normal range of removal rate constants described in the literature for wetlands receiving similar inflow qualities. Performance is expected to improve as wetland vegetation and soils become established. The continued high public use and acceptance of the wetlands, as well as the diversity and abundance of wildlife within the wetlands, are strong indications of the wetland's ecological health and benefit to the community.