Engineering Commons^™

Periodic Draining Reduces Mosquito Emergence From Free-Water Surface Constructed Wetlands, Catherine R. Mayhew, D. Raj Raman, Reid R. Gerhardt, Robert T. Burns, Mary Sue Younger

D. Raj Raman

Both subsurface flow and free-water surface constructed wetland systems have been used for partial treatment of manure-laden wastewater from animal production systems. Subsurface flow systems are considerably more expensive but do not breed mosquitoes. The less expensive free-water surface systems have significant mosquito production potential, which is a serious drawback, especially because of increasing concerns about emerging mosquito-borne disease organisms. Periodically draining constructed wetlands has been suggested as a method of mosquito control. To test this approach, eight free-water surface constructed wetland mesocosms (0.7 m2 each) were operated on a one-week drain/fill cycle. Simultaneously, four subsurface flow mesocosms were operated …