Advanced treatment
Passive polishing that improves treated water quality and appearance
Tertiary Constructed Wetlands: Advanced Treatment
Nature-based solutions that complement a wastewater treatment plant to meet even more demanding standards
Request your quote today!What are tertiary constructed wetlands?
Tertiary constructed wetlands are facilities designed to provide advanced water treatment.
They replicate natural decomposition processes to remove residual organic and emerging contaminants and pathogens that remain in wastewater. Aquatic plants, macroorganisms and microorganisms thrive in this constructed ecosystem, improving treated water quality.
Wetlands are landscape features that support biodiversity while requiring virtually no supplies or energy.
At first glance, they look like ornamental gardens, but they are much more: beauty and functionality in one system. These natural spaces enhance their surroundings while playing an essential role in safe, sustainable water reuse. They are ideal for projects seeking higher water-quality standards, landscaping, reuse for ornamental and productive irrigation, aquifer recharge or discharge into sensitive bodies of water.
Read this study on tertiary wetland technology for wastewater treatment.
TIM tertiary constructed wetlands guarantee
100% natural process
Based on biological processes and a planting palette of aquatic species
Environmentally respectful design
A planting palette of native species; we avoid invasive and exotic plants
Aesthetics and functionality
A functional feature integrated into green spaces and the landscape
Greater resilience
By supporting wildlife and plants, we contribute to more resilient biodiversity
Low maintenance
Simple operation with minimal intervention
The perfect complement
Integrate it into your project to reach higher sustainability standards
Storage
Low-investment storage of treated water and rainwater with a low ecological impact
Why choose TIM tertiary constructed wetlands?
With water shortages and stricter regulations, tertiary constructed wetlands are a natural solution to:
- strengthen water resilience
- achieve better treated water quality
- reduce nutrient concentrations
- improve aesthetics with a landscape feature
- support biodiversity
Types of tertiary constructed wetlands we build
We specialize in two types of tertiary constructed wetlands that complement our treatment plants. Both use the same principles: aquatic plants, macroorganisms and microorganisms clean the water. They differ only in the experience they create and their size:
Horizontal subsurface flow
- Water rises from the bottom through gravel, reaching plant roots, and flows horizontally through the wetland.
- More construction work is needed to contain the gravel, limiting architectural possibilities.
- The rectangular shape ensures uniform flow through the constructed wetland.
Free-water-surface flow
- Water flows horizontally through the roots, stems and leaves of plants that float or are planted in fertile soil on the bottom.
- They are more visually striking features that can have a more organic shape.
- They require a slightly larger area to achieve the same performance as a subsurface-flow wetland.
Prefabricated tertiary wetlands
Natural efficiency with quick, optimized installation
At TIM, we also design prefabricated tertiary wetlands. These compact, efficient solutions suit projects requiring quick implementation and, in many cases, lower costs.
These solutions can be designed for either subsurface or free-water-surface flow, preserving the same natural treatment principles in an optimized, modular format.
Made with the same high-quality materials as our treatment plants, these systems ensure durability, reliability and lasting performance.
Advantages of TIM prefabricated wetlands:
Easy installation
Minimal civil works that are easy to carry out
Space optimization
The compact design allows the tertiary stage to fit into smaller spaces, unlike conventional tertiary systems, which usually require a mechanical room
Shorter implementation time
Prefabrication significantly reduces implementation time
Standardized quality
Manufacturing under controlled conditions improves standardization and efficiency and ensures the final product's quality
Better value
Because the wetland partially replaces a conventional tertiary system, no equipment enclosure or mechanical room is needed. The prefabricated system is also more economical than an on-site installation with a geomembrane
Maintenance and care of a TIM wetland
- Water level control
Check that the design water level is maintained, that there are no blockages and that flow has not stopped for an extended period - Weeding
Remove invasive or dominant plants from time to time - Cleaning
Remove dead plant matter once a year to encourage regrowth and prevent dead leaves from discoloring the treated water - Mosquito control
Their appearance indicates stagnant water or a biodiversity imbalance that must be addressed immediately
