Artificial wetlands as a key for the construction of new sustainable urban systems

Abstract

Along the water route, man and nature interact intimately. The flow and occupation of the water route led to a relationship that emerged naturally within its logic. However, based on a deep understanding of complex and dynamic ecological processes, the relationship between man and natural processes has changed. Control and centralization buried these processes through a system of invisible infrastructures, causing a disconnection between the water path and the landscape's ecological processes. Providing clean water and an adequate sanitation system does not represent great complexity. While essential technologies and engineering principles have been mastered, it is striking that more than one billion people in the world still lack access to clean water, and almost two billion struggle with inadequate wastewater treatment. Furthermore, water-related diseases are the leading cause of premature death in developing countries. In searching for a solution to water sources and soil pollution, we propose exploring Artificial Wetlands (AW) as Nature-Based Solutions (NBS). These solutions provide environmental, social, and economic benefits. The research focuses on a hydraulic sanitation system disconnected from the central network. This system includes designing a system of artificial wetlands to treat wastewater produced by direct discharges to streams and rivers and proposes an AW in Sinincay (peripheral parish), where 42% of their territory does not have a wastewater treatment system. The results show that this phytoremediation technique is a passive and aesthetically pleasing cleaning practice that utilizes plants and solar energy to treat polluted waters. Thus, it is imperative to rethink sanitation concepts in order to integrate constructing infrastructures, ecological functions, and accessible spaces for people as a new alternative to a sustainable urban system.