Environmental · Water Treatment
Bench-Scale Constructed Wetland
Intermediate 6 weeks 30-40 hours
Build a planted wetland and an unplanted control, feed both nutrient-rich water, and measure how much nitrogen and phosphorus the plants remove.
Major
Environmental
Focus area
Water Treatment
Total hours
30-40 hours
What you'll need
- clear plastic storage bins 2 pack
- pea gravel
- nitrate and phosphate water test kit
- aquarium air pump or small submersible pump
- liquid plant fertilizer
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Steps
- Build 2 identical gravel beds, planting native wetland plants in one and leaving the other empty.
- Mix a consistent test water with a measured amount of fertilizer.
- Feed both systems the same volume on the same schedule.
- Test nitrate and phosphate going in and coming out twice a week.
- Calculate removal percentage for each system over time.
- Chart planted vs. control results and document them for your portfolio.
What to photograph for your portfolio
- Both systems side by side
- plant roots in gravel
- test kit results
- removal chart planted vs control
Resume bullet starters
Copy one, then swap in your own numbers.
Built a bench-scale constructed wetland that removed [X]% of nitrate and [X]% of phosphate
Used an unplanted control to isolate the effect of wetland plants on nutrient removal
Quantified results with [insert your result, such as removal percentage, accuracy, strength, or cost savings] and summarized findings in a technical report
Skills you'll show off
Natural treatment systemsnutrient chemistrycontrolled experimentsremoval efficiencytechnical reporting