Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 2015, 3, 1-14
Published Online May 2015 in SciRes. http://www.scirp.org/journal/gep
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/gep.2015.33001
How to cite this paper: Ezeah, C., Reyes, C.A.R. and Gutiérrez, J.F.C. (2015) Constructed Wetland Systems as a Methodology
for the Treatment of Wastewater in Bucaramanga Industrial Park. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 3, 1-
14. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/gep.2015.33001
Constructed Wetland Systems as a
Methodology for the Treatment of
Wastewater in Bucaramanga Industrial Park
Chukwunonye Ezeah
1
, Carlos Alberto Ríos Reyes
2
, Jairo Fernando Contreras Gutiérrez
2
1
Faculty of Sciences and Engineering, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, UK
2
Universidad Industrial de Santander, Bucaramanga, Colombia
Email: C.Ezeah2@wlv.ac.uk
Received 13 March 2015; accepted 17 April 2015; published 21 April 2015
Copyright © 2015 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY).
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Abstract
Effluent discharges from municipal, industrial, and agricultural activities constitute major sources
of pollution on land and water bodies. During the 1990s, large-scale application of Constructed Wet-
lands (CWs) as a remediation option drew much attention globally from the public and green groups
alike. The most common application of CWs is for flow management in river system and little is
documented on using CWs for treating polluted river water. This article goes beyond constructed
wetlands as a stand-alone methodology to propose an integrated remediation system incorporat-
ing constructed wetlands in Bucaramanga Industrial Park S.A., Santander (Colombia), which will
form part of an innovation park. In addition to pollution abatement, the project is projected to
provide other environmental benefits to the entire Oro River Sub-basin. Other benefits of the project
include mitigation of environmental impacts, improvement in water quality, landscape amenity,
as well as tourism and recreational benefits.
Keywords
Water Pollution, Constructed Wetlands, Wastewater, Integrated Remediation System,
Tourism and Recreation
1. Introduction
The application of constructed wetlands (CWs) for wastewater treatment has gained significant acceptability in
recent times particularly in emerging economies as a result of their versatility, economic and environmental me-
rits such as the provision of esthetic and recreational opportunities, wildlife habitats, walking routes, land pre-