Ecologists have suggested that aquatic vascular plants might be used to recover and redisperse excessive quantities of mineral nutrients or toxic metals that are present in wastes. The paper deals with procedures for identifying the degree of compatibility of aquatic species with particular environs. Ceratophyllum demersum, Egeria densa, Elodea nuttallii and Lagarosiphon major have been studied in pond environments. A maximum net yield near 700 gm/sq m ash-free dry weight can be expected from the best adapted of these growing for 60-70 days in pleioeutrophic wastewater ponds. Luxury consumption of nitrogen and phosphorus occurred in transplanted and indigenous populations. Cr, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn and Pb in submersed vascular hydrophytes appear to be related to the amount of the elements in the environment.