Waste-water treatment

Agricultural effluents are a big source of water pollution. Agricultural systems can be designed to promote waste water treatment via wetlands or buffer strips. Working on reducing these effluents can help putting less pressure on the ecosystem. Agricultural systems can also be designed to reduce the use of agricultural chemicals which may end up in run-off and water bodies.

Livestock are a producer of waste water and can cause water pollution. Livestock's influence on water quality is related to concentration in the landscape, either of water points where animals gather, or pollution from manure and fertilizer for feed crops or both. Management practices can be adopted to avoid water pollution.

Many fish species are key to functional wetlands which are the main natural waste-water treatment mechanism. Fish, molluscs and other aquatic animals as well as fish habitats are vital parts of ecosystem functioning and processes that are essential for water quality. Spatial planning for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture can minimize negative effects to those ecosystems.

Trees contribute heavily to waste-water treatment through their root system and their role in nutrient cycling.