Constructed Wetlands Research Facility

Olds College, Olds, Alberta
What the facility does

Organic and inorganic analyses of food-grade and environmental samples.

Areas of expertise

The Constructed Wetlands Research Facility is a unique collaboration between industry, government and an academic institution to address environmental problems and meet the strategic government environmental policy needs. It was established to provide research support to implement Alberta’s Water for Life strategy. The infrastructure is an 8.5-hectare outdoor laboratory consisting of 19 research ponds that are equipped with real-time hydrological and water-quality monitoring instrumentation and telemetry capabilities. The facility is utilized for on-site experimentation, verification and development of treatment processes and technologies that could be used in off-site applications.

Research services
  • Wetlands functionality monitoring
  • Wetlands mitigation
  • Phytoremediation of industrial and municipal waste water (e.g. produced water from oil and gas operations)
  • Agricultural- and storm-water treatment
  • Aquatic plants selection for effectiveness in contaminant removal
  • Propagation of aquatic plants
  • Biodiversity monitoring and enhancement
Sectors of application
  • Agriculture, animal science and food
  • Clean technology
  • Construction (including building, civil engineering, specialty trades)
  • Education
  • Environmental technologies and related services

Equipment

Function

Triple-lined research ponds with water-recirculation capabilities

 

Recirculation pumps

 

Hydrological parameter sensors

 

Water-quality monitoring probes

Multi-parametric, real-time.

Greenhouse

For aquatic plant cultivation.

Telemetry backbone 

Integrated with IT system for data transfer and processing.

Weather Station

 

  • Foothills Landscaping Ltd. (Calgary)
  • Westhoff Engineering Resources (Calgary)
  • WestCreek Developments (Strathmore)
  • Town of Strathmore (Alberta)
  • Prairie Merchant (Calgary)
  • Alberta Environment
  • High Plains Industrial Park (Balzac)
  • Town of Olds (Alberta)
  • Ducks Unlimited
  • Red Deer River Watershed Alliance