Constructed Wetlands are able to remove pollutants such as suspended solids, nitrogen, storm water runoff and some metals. This will be beneficial for Penn State’s Center for Sustainability’s Constructed Wetlands which will need to clean rain water and gray water created from washing dishes and produce. The plants located in the Constructed Wetlands are used to purify the water. The plants convert sunlight into chemical energy which carries oxygen to the root of the plant, creating an oxidized zone. The oxidized zone harbors large colonies of pollution eating microbes, which purify the water . The previous EPICS 11 senior design project has developed a layout for both the Constructed Wetlands and Solar Pond. The particular type of wetland that will be created is a subsurface wetland. Subsurface wetlands are preferable over constructed wetlands in which the water’s surface is exposed to the environment.

Settling devices have been designed for the Constructed Wetlands to settle out any particulate matter that may be in the system. The re-circulating water as well as the gray water from the sinks will pass through the settling devices prior to entering the Constructed Wetlands. Tubing, similar to that of the CentipedeTM* will be used to disperse water throughout the wetland after the sediment has been filtered out. The addition of a Koender’s Windmill Aeration system will be used to ensure proper aeration of both the Constructed Wetland and Solar Pond. The Windmill Aeration system will operate in winds between 5 and 40 miles an hour, which is suitable for Central Pennsylvania. The system is designed for up to a 2 acre pond of water, with a depth of 10 feet. Therefore, it will provide ample aeration for the smaller system that we have created. One air stone will be placed in both the Constructed Wetlands and Solar Pond to ensure that each area receives adequate aeration.

The Solar Pond serves mainly as a reservoir for the water to be circulated and to fill the tanks in the food shed.