An artificial wetland is a sustainable ecosystem capable of treating and removing contaminants from wastewater streams. As such, they have great potential for low key, economic water treatment applications. Artificial wetlands are reconstructed biotechnical habitats for plants and microflora. This active water treatment system can be combined with an initial soil filtration stage to provide a system capable of greater contaminant removal.

ARC Geobac designs wetlands, with water depths from a few centimetres to one metre, and then equips them with appropriate marsh and water tolerant plants and shrubs. The wetlands growth media can be seeded with specific microflora which are capable of metabolizing designated contaminants. Wetland treatment can, therefore, be designed for specific contaminant removal. ARC Geobac undertakes pre-design evaluation, site reconnaissance and contaminant loading assessment to arrive at an appropriate design. Systems can be combined with mechanical removal and/or natural attenuation, and are intended for low maintenance. Contaminants that can be treated include aircraft deicers, hydrocarbons, pesticides, BOD, nutrients, phosphate and heavy metals.