The ability of vegetated floating Islands to improve water quality in natural and constructed wetlands: a review

2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernie Masters
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Constructed Wetlands ◽  
Wetland Management ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Pollutant Removal ◽  
Nitrogen Gas ◽  
Natural Wetlands ◽  
Pollutant Reduction ◽  
Rich Material ◽  
Biofilm Development

Constructed and natural wetlands are widely used to improve many water quality parameters. Vegetated floating islands (VFIs) placed on the surface of these wetlands significantly enhance the efficiency of natural processes that reduce nutrients, suspended solids, heavy metals and other pollutants. Pollutant reduction in VFIs, particularly nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous, occurs primarily through the actions of bacterial biofilms growing within the island matrix and on plant roots hanging below the islands. Direct uptake of nutrients by plants is minor, although plants are essential as they provide additional substrate for biofilm development while supplying oxygen and carbon for use by the bacteria. Nitrogen-based nutrients are primarily removed from wetlands as nitrogen gas. Phosphorous is mostly deposited as organic-rich sediment which accumulates within or beneath the floating islands. This material can become anoxic and return its contained phosphorous to the water column, making it biologically available for algal or bacterial blooms that degrade water quality. Physical removal of this P-rich material is an essential wetland management action. VFIs can remove phosphorous at up to 4.6 g/m2/day and ammonia at up to 8.1 g/m2/day with simultaneous denitrification of nitrate to nitrogen gas. VFIs can significantly increase the efficiency of pollutant removal from natural and constructed wetlands.

scholarly journals Modeling for Mitigating Storm Water Unban Flooding and Water Quality Issues by Using Small Serial Dams: A Case Study of the City of San Angelo

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Peak Flow ◽  
Pollutant Removal ◽  
Storm Water ◽  
Coefficient Of Determination ◽  
Event Mean Concentration ◽  
Flow Reduction ◽  
Pollutant Reduction ◽  
Water Pollutant ◽  
The City

<p>The City of San Angelo has been imposed on urban flooding and no-point source pollution and develop storm water monitoring and modeling project for managing these storm water issues. This study focuses on the stormwater peak flow reduction and water pollutant improvement by using small serial retention structures. The storm water data collected are utilized to verify storm water and event mean concentration in SWMM model. The verified SWMM that has range from 0.6 to 0.8 of coefficient of determination is modeled to evaluate small serial dams for reducing peak flow and water quality loading. Small serial dams explain the 26%~55.3% peak flow reduction and 53.2%~93.7% water pollutant removal percent. Sensitivity analysis results for three kinds of orifice sizes provide that smaller size increases the hydraulic retention and reduces the peak flow than other bigger size while the bigger size shows effective water pollutant reduction than small size.</p>

scholarly journals Role of Wetland Plants and Use of Ornamental Flowering Plants in Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment: A Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 685 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Sandoval ◽  
Sergio Zamora-Castro ◽  
Monserrat Vidal-Álvarez ◽  
José Marín-Muñiz
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
North America ◽  
Constructed Wetlands ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Ornamental Plants ◽  
Flowering Plants ◽  
Wetland Plants ◽  
Pollutant Removal ◽  
Natural Wetland ◽  
Natural Wetlands

The vegetation in constructed wetlands (CWs) plays an important role in wastewater treatment. Popularly, the common emergent plants in CWs have been vegetation of natural wetlands. However, there are ornamental flowering plants that have some physiological characteristics similar to the plants of natural wetlands that can stimulate the removal of pollutants in wastewater treatments; such importance in CWs is described here. A literature survey of 87 CWs from 21 countries showed that the four most commonly used flowering ornamental vegetation genera were Canna, Iris, Heliconia and Zantedeschia. In terms of geographical location, Canna spp. is commonly found in Asia, Zantedeschia spp. is frequent in Mexico (a country in North America), Iris is most commonly used in Asia, Europe and North America, and species of the Heliconia genus are commonly used in Asia and parts of the Americas (Mexico, Central and South America). This review also compares the use of ornamental plants versus natural wetland plants and systems without plants for removing pollutants (organic matter, nitrogen, nitrogen and phosphorous compounds). The removal efficiency was similar between flowering ornamental and natural wetland plants. However, pollutant removal was better when using ornamental plants than in unplanted CWs. The use of ornamental flowering plants in CWs is an excellent option, and efforts should be made to increase the adoption of these system types and use them in domiciliary, rural and urban areas.

Use of constructed wetlands to process agricultural wastewater

1998 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans G. Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Constructed Wetlands ◽  
Pollutant Removal ◽  
Regulatory Agencies ◽  
Quality Improvements ◽  
Agricultural Wastewater ◽  
Agricultural Community ◽  
Run Off ◽  
Wetland Treatment ◽  
Natural Wetlands

Constructed wetlands are emerging as a serious challenge to conventional wastewater treatment because of lower construction and operating costs, less requirement for trained personnel, more flexibility, and lower susceptibility to variations in waste loading rates. Water quality improvements can be achieved by removal of plant nutrients, such as N and P, organics (natural and manmade) as well as inorganic contaminants. Wetland treatment is now advocated by regulatory agencies and has been determined as the technology of choice by municipalities and industries required to meet stringent discharge regulations. These same regulations have not usually been imposed on the agricultural community, but deteriorating water sources will likely change this regulatory anomaly. Use of this technology in treating agricultural wastewater is still in its infancy with few, although rapidly expanding, applications. This paper aims to highlight different aspects of wetland treatment by exploring its use for the treatment of agricultural run-off as well as wastewater from the agri-food industry. It is concluded that natural wetlands will be quite limited in absorbing agricultural wastewater while constructed wetlands can be designed for optimum pollutant removal. Key words: Constructed wetlands, wastewater treatment, agriculture, food processing, nutrient removal, nitrogen, phosphorus, organics

scholarly journals Reuse of aquaculture wastewater treated in constructed wetlands

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
pp. 347-354
Author(s):  
Denis Leocádio Teixeira ◽  
Augusto Souza ◽  
Guilherme de Souza Moura ◽  
Maurício Cezar Resende Leite Júnior
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Constructed Wetlands ◽  
Water Reuse ◽  
Nile Tilapia ◽  
Typha Latifolia ◽  
Fish Farming ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Fishing Activity ◽  
Cynodon Nlemfuensis ◽  
Aquaculture Wastewater

Water reuse in fish farming is a practice that has been spreading significantly, therefore requiring more efficient and vigorous treatment systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential reuse of aquaculture wastewater after being treated in horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands (HSSF-CW). Three HSSF-CWs with dimensions of 1.0 m in width, 3.0 m in length, and 0.30 m in depth were evaluated. One HSSF-CW had stargrass (Cynodon nlemfuensis) cultivated; the other had cattail (Typha latifolia), and the third was used as a control, where there was no cultivation. The wastewater was provided from three Nile tilapia breeding tanks, which recirculated the entire system after going through the HSSF-CW. The following variables were determined every five days at the HSSF-CW influent and effluent: temperature, pH, turbidity, electrical conductivity, redox potential, dissolved oxygen, ammonium, and nitrate. The treatment in the HSSF-CW allowed the reuse of aquaculture wastewater as it provides water quality levels according to the recommendation for Nile tilapia breeding. Furthermore, the water quality parameters monitored in HSSF-CW effluent remained within limits established by CONAMA Resolution No. 357/2005 for aquaculture and fishing activity.

scholarly journals Associations Between Water Quality Parameters and Planktonic Communities in Three Constructed Wetlands, Taipei

Wetlands ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 1241-1248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pen-Yuan Chen ◽  
Pei-Fen Lee ◽  
Chie-Jen Ko ◽  
Chun-Han Ko ◽  
Ta-Ching Chou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Constructed Wetlands ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Water Quality Parameters ◽  
Planktonic Communities

scholarly journals Effectiveness of dredging and drains’ treatment on water quality of Rosetta branch

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 200525-0
Author(s):  
Mohie Eldin M. Omar ◽  
Mohamed A. Ghareeb ◽  
Shaimaa El Sherbini
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Constructed Wetlands ◽  
Maximum Flow ◽  
Drainage Water ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Optimal Designs ◽  
Case Simulation ◽  
Measured Water

Rosetta Branch of Nile River in Egypt receives drainage water from five agricultural drains deteriorating its water quality. Since the branch is used for irrigation and municipal purposes, its water quality should be enhanced. Hence, the current paper aimed at providing the most effective intervention to improve the branch water quality. Preventing drainage disposal was excluded due its significance to downstream users. The paper investigated the impacts of drains' treatment and branch dredging on hydrodynamics and water quality. The branch was numerically simulated using HECRAS model, and calibrated using measured water levels and quality parameters. The paper selected constructed wetlands as the most suitable method for drainage treatment based on conditions of study area. SUBWET model predicted optimal designs of wetlands achieving the desired treatment efficiency. SUBWET model was calibrated with experimental wetlands at Delta Barrage. Results showed that 1-m dredging dropped water surface elevations by 22 to 50 cm. Dredging had no significant changes in the backwater zone of Edfina Barrage at the branch end except for the maximum flow case. Simulation of dissolved oxygen and ammonium showed that dredging and treatment improved water quality. Drains’ treatment by constructed wetlands with selected designs was much more effective than dredging.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document