Wastewater Treatment Facility-Constructed Wetland Project (2010 LGAA)

Village of Minoa
County: Onondaga County
Population: Less than 5,000
Village Hall: (315) 656-3100

The Constructed Wetland Project was developed in 1993, and its sole purpose was to take the wastewater lading off the Treatment Facility. Research was completed over a 14 year period, and the Village was able to achieve 99% removal of wastewater from sewage.  The wetland was built at a low cost and has been beneficial for small municipalities as well as possible third world applications. The Village used available materials to create the wetland, and the project used no electricity or chemicals. The wetland has the ability to break down complex compounds, and in 2009, the Village was even able to test estrogen, which is not typically broken down in a Wastewater Treatment Facility. As a result, it was discovered that the wetlands have the ability to reduce the amount of estrogen in the wastewater. The Village is moving forward with research to actively remove more complex compounds.