Net export of E. coli from the Toenepi wetland cannot be explained by growth of naturalized E. coli in the water column

Runoff from agricultural land is recognized as an important source of contaminants—nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment and Escherichia coli—that impact water quality.

Constructed wetlands have been promoted as a green infrastructure approach to attenuate these contaminants.

A considerable amount of work has been carried out on nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment attenuation through wetlands and these processes are reasonably well understood.