Dataset for Developing the evidence base for surface-flow treatment wetlands targeting phosphorus removal and carbon sequestration

Abstract

Constructed wetlands are increasingly recognised as low-energy nature-based solutions for wastewater treatment, particularly for small and rural communities facing tightening nutrient discharge regulations. This thesis investigated the performance and long-term resilience of four full-scale surface flow treatment wetlands in the United Kingdom and Ireland using datasets spanning up to 14 years. The research combined water quality assessment, phosphorus fractionation, sediment and biomass analysis, hydraulic tracer testing, greenhouse gas estimation, and Weibull survival-based reliability modelling at the Clifton, Ingoldisthorpe, Langham, and Glaslough Integrated Constructed Wetlands (ICWs). Overall, the thesis demonstrated that integrating reliability analysis, hydraulic function, and internal storage dynamics provides a more process-based understanding of long-term wetland sustainability.