Water-Treatment Facility

After years of draining and destryong them, communities are discovering the value wetlands provide against storm surges and pollution. The city of Arcata, California, uses an artificial wetland system as a sewage-treatment facility. Wastewater is pumped into a series of wetlands where, over time, naturally occurring bacteria and plants cleanse the polluted water. This sewage treatment also happens to be a thriving plant and wildlife refuge.

Photograph by Ruth Miller, MyShot

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wetland Encyclopedic Entry

Best For
6 - 12 and up

Subjects
Geography, Science

Appropriate For

Educators
Families
Students

Encyclopedic entry. A wetland is an area of land that is either covered by water or saturated with water.

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Photograph by Ruth Miller, MyShot

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