Innovative Constructed Wetland to Mitigate Contaminants of Emerging Concern for the City of Nampa
The City of Nampa’s Water Garden Constructed Wetland is an innovative project to mitigate contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) such as PFAS, pharmaceuticals, and 6PPD-quinone in stormwater and wastewater systems. This presentation will discuss wetland pollutant removal mechanisms, innovative treatment media like biochar, zeolite, and activated carbon, and highlights successful treatment wetland projects across the Pacific Northwest. A detailed case study of the Nampa’s Water Garden Wetland features design strategies, water quality modeling results, and anticipated benefits for nutrient and contaminant reduction, habitat enhancement, and community livability. The project emphasizes sustainable, low-maintenance solutions that integrate natural processes with engineered systems to improve Nampa’s regional water quality and resilience.
Tom Points is the Senior Public Works Director for the City of Nampa, Idaho’s largest full-service city, where he leads a diverse team in providing essential services including transportation and water utilities. With 27 years of engineering leadership experience, Tom previously worked at the Idaho and Washington Departments of Transportation and as a geotechnical consultant. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Geological Engineering and is a licensed Civil Engineer in Idaho, known for his accomplishments in developing a Transportation Funding Plan for Nampa and constructing a water renewal facility that provides Class A recycled water for Nampa’s irrigation system.
Erin Cox is a Water Resources Expert, an Environmental Engineer, and currently serves as the Northwest Water Resources Strategic Growth Leader and Idaho Client Account Manager at Jacobs. Erin has a B.S. in Biology, a M.S in Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, and she is a PhD candidate in Biological Design. Her areas of expertise include water quality, water resources, reuse, stormwater, and engineering with nature. Erin’s professional career started in Newport Beach, CA working on complex water challenges at McGuire Environmental Consultants and then she worked as a Project Manager and in Business Development at CH2M HILL/Jacobs throughout the country for over 13 years. After a 10-year hiatus as an author and professor teaching environmental and water-related courses in Oregon Tech’s Civil Engineering program, she rejoined the consulting world in 2021. Her passion is protecting, improving, and sustaining water resources for future generations! She loves spending time reading, traveling, biking, hiking, and exploring with her three kids.