The Environment Agency for England and Wales are responsible for assessing
the effects of highway runoff and for monitoring the treatment systems/proc
edures which have been introduced for the reduction of deleterious effects.
The Agency is looking into the improvement of surface water management in
terms of best management practices and plans to work in partnership with th
e Highways Agency to achieve this aim. Among the treatment options being co
nsidered are constructed wetlands. Draft Guidelines have been developed to
provide information on their design. This paper describes procedures for ca
rrying out an Environmental Sensitivity Analysis to determine whether treat
ment by a constructed wetland is appropriate. Information on water quality
and quantity is required as well as the sensitivity of the receiving enviro
nment. The legislative position, particularly in relation to the discharge
quality of the water and the conservation status of the receiving environme
nt, needs also to be considered. The factors that will determine the most a
ppropriate wetland design criteria include traffic loadings, road drainage
area, land availability, cost and the size/extent and type of the receiving
water body. The following structures are recommended for incorporation in
the overall design; oil separator and silt trap, spillage containment, sett
lement pond, vegetative wetland and final settlement tank. The operation an
d maintenance procedures and the monitoring requirements for a functioning
wetland are described. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.