The role of constructed wetlands in cities of the future. A strategy for creating ‘utopia’

Constructed wetlands for domestic wastewater treatment may be inappropriate in large towns and cities, but they have an important role to play in source control and the treatment of urban runoff and stormwater. The promotion of constructed wetlands and other Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) or Best Management Practices (BMPs) will be described in the European Commission (EC) funded SWITCH project which is developing innovative and sustainable urban water management approaches and technologies. demonstration projects have been developed in urban centres in Asia (e.g. Chongqing), Africa (e.g.Accra), Latin America (e.g. Belo Horizonte) and Europe (e.g. Lodz) and examples will be described. In each city a learning Alliannce is being established that is comprised of the major stakeholders who can drive the demonstration activities and disseminate their benefits. To support end-users in the selection of constructed wetlands as a SUDS/BMP for a particular location, an online decision making system or Multi-Ctiteria Comparator (MCC) has been developed within the EC-funded DayWater stormwater management project, in relation to a range of site-specific socio-economic and environmental criteria. Both projects will facilitate the adoption of constructed wetlands as an urban water management option