Rainfall that reaches the ground can be absorbed into the soil or flow over the land. When a wetland is able to capture this water before it enters creeks, streams or rivers, it functions like a natural filter. ... By trapping nutrient and sediment pollution, wetlands send cleaner water downstream.

Do wetlands purify water?

Wetlands can improve water quality by removing pollutants from surface waters. Three pollutant removal processes provided by wetlands are particularly important: sediment trapping, nutrient removal and chemical detoxification.

What do wetlands do for water?

They protect us from flooding, drought and climate change. They protect wildlife by providing hundreds of species with safe places to eat, sleep and raise young. They give us natural places to play, learn and explore. They also clean the water we enjoy at beaches, lakes and rivers.