Annual Conference

Agricultural runoff wetland. Image credit: Constructed Farm Wetlands (CFW) Design Manual for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Following up from our Silver Anniversary conference, the CWA moves to Scotland to showcase some of the breadth of experience with the technology for the past three decades. We will discuss long term performance, evidence-led designs, and the latest research on constructed wetlands for improving water quality from a variety of sources.

INVITED KEYNOTES

"Global and Local Collaborations Delivering Multi-Benefit Place-Based Solutions for Water, Climate and Communities" by Dr Rebecca Wade (Scotland)

Dr Rebecca Wade is a Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science at Abertay University. She works collaboratively across disciplines and sectors to address climate, nature and societal challenges. Rebecca's research and practice link urban water engineering, river restoration, and sustainable infrastructure to the delivery of multiple environmental and societal benefits. In 2003, Rebecca co-founded SUDSnet, an international community of practice for researchers and practitioners focused on sustainable urban water management. She holds director and trustee roles with science engagement and environmental organisations in Scotland, and has received a number of awards recognising her contributions to the field, including Top 50 Women in Engineering 2024 and the RRC UK Rivers Prize 2023.

Rebecca will draw on her experience spanning research, practice and international collaboration to explore how place-based approaches — rooted in local knowledge and delivered through cross-sector partnerships — can deliver multiple benefits for water quality, climate resilience and communities.

"In-Stream Treatment Wetlands for Mitigating Diffuse Pollution in Rural Landscapes in Estonia: Achievements, Challenges, and Lessons Learned”

Dr Margit Kõiv-Vainik is an Associate Professor in Environmental Technology at the Department of Geography, in the Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Estonia. Her interdisciplinary research focuses on process-based development and optimisation of nature-based water solutions — including constructed treatment wetlands and sustainable stormwater systems — to improve removal of highly problematic contaminants from polluted waters, spanning urban stormwater, agricultural diffuse runoff, landfill leachate, municipal and aquaculture wastewater, and greywater. Kõiv-Vainik's research integrates ecological processes, phytotechnology, and environmental engineering to improve the performance and resilience of nature-based solutions under multiple stressors.

Margit will present on decades of experience with treatment wetlands for diffuse pollution management in the landscape under cold weather conditions, drawing on collaborative work led by Prof. Kuno Kasak at the University of Tartu (https://sisu.ut.ee/ecotech/).

TECHNICAL FIELD TRIP

This year's conference field trip takes delegates to Hansel in Ayrshire — a social care facility that has been managing its water sustainably using nature-based solutions for over twenty years. The site combines conventional infrastructure with constructed wetlands and surface water features.

Wastewater is first treated through a sewage treatment plant, with secondary effluent then polished in a 1,100 m² horizontal flow reedbed to meet discharge standards. A separate 400 m² storm reedbed handles flows that exceed the design secondary treatment capacity, ensuring the system performs reliably even during high rainfall events.

Beyond wastewater treatment, the site manages surface water through a network of sustainable drainage systems — a pond and wetlands that capture and attenuate runoff when adjacent agricultural soils are saturated. This integrated approach addresses both water quality and flood risk within a single, largely self-maintaining system.

All interventions were designed, commissioned, and are maintained under contract by Moir Environmental, one of the CWA's founding members. Delegates will have the opportunity to walk the full site and speak directly with the designer.

NEW WETLAND PROFESSIONALS

We have dedicated sessions to foster and mentor our colleagues who are “new to wetlands”. Our definition of early career professional is based on having worked with wetlands for less than five years – regardless of your age. So, if this is you, please consider submitting an abstract for either a poster or flash presentation to enter our competition for a prize. Even if you don't take first place, you will get to share your work with a friendly audience who is rooting for you to become a wetland champion!

ACCOMMODATION

The conference will be held at the campus of Glasgow Caledonian University (70 Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow, G4 0BA). Whilst there is no onsite accommodation, we are negotiating special rates with local venues and we will update this information as soon as possible.