Do macrophytes play a role in constructed treatment wetlands?

1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 11-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans Brix
Keyword(s):  
Surface Flow ◽  
Treatment Wetlands ◽  
Treatment Processes ◽  
Aquatic Mosses ◽  
Flow Systems ◽  
Physical Effects ◽  
Removal Processes ◽  
Constructed Treatment Wetlands ◽  
Uptake Of Nutrients

The larger aquatic plants growing in wetlands are usually called macrophytes. These include aquatic vascular plants, aquatic mosses and some larger algae. The presence or absence of aquatic macrophytes is one of the characteristics used to define wetlands, and as such macrophytes are an indispensable component of these ecosystems. As the most important removal processes in constructed treatment wetlands are based on physical and microbial processes, the role of the macrophytes in these has been questioned. This paper summarizes how macrophytes influence the treatment processes in wetlands. The most important functions of the macrophytes in relation to the treatment of wastewater are the physical effects the presence of the plants gives rise to. The macrophytes stabilise the surface of the beds, provide good conditions for physical filtration, prevent vertical flow systems from clogging, insulate the surface against frost during winter, and provide a huge surface area for attached microbial growth. Contrary to earlier belief, the growth of macrophytes does not increase the hydraulic conductivity of the substrate in soil-based subsurface flow constructed wetlands. The metabolism of the macrophytes affects the treatment processes to different extents depending on the type of the constructed wetland. Plant uptake of nutrients is only of quantitative importance in low-loaded systems (surface flow systems). Macrophyte mediated transfer of oxygen to the rhizosphere by leakage from roots increases aerobic degradation of organic matter and nitrification. The macrophytes have additional site-specific values by providing habitat for wildlife and making wastewater treatment systems aesthetically pleasing.

Functions of Macrophytes in Constructed Wetlands

1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 71-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans Brix
Keyword(s):  
Constructed Wetlands ◽  
Microbial Growth ◽  
Surface Flow ◽  
Wetland Plant ◽  
Intrinsic Properties ◽  
Treatment Processes ◽  
Flow Systems ◽  
Physical Effects ◽  
Uptake Of Nutrients ◽  
Quantitative Importance

Macrophytes have several intrinsic properties that makes them an indispensable component of constructed wetlands. The most important functions of the macrophytes in relation to the treatment of wastewater are the physical effects brought about by the presence of the plants. The macrophytes stabilise the surface of the beds, provide good conditions for physical filtration, prevent vertical flow systems from clogging, insulate against frost during winter, and provide a huge surface area for attached microbial growth. Contrary to earlier belief, the growth of macrophytes does not increase the hydraulic conductivity of the substrate in soil-based subsurface flow constructed wetlands. The metabolism of the macrophytes affects the treatment processes to different extents depending on the design of the constructed wetland. Plant uptake of nutrients is only of quantitative importance in low-loaded systems (surface flow systems). Macrophyte-mediated transfer of oxygen to the rhizosphere by leakage from roots increases aerobic degradation of organic matter and nitrification. The macrophytes have additional site-specific values by providing habitat for wildlife and making wastewater treatment systems aesthetically pleasing.

Transportation pathways of pesticides in two major watersheds of Istanbul, Turkey

2004 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 165-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Yazgan ◽  
A. Tanik
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Surface Flow ◽  
Priority List ◽  
Pesticide Pollution ◽  
Consumption Values ◽  
Annual Consumption ◽  
Agricultural Areas ◽  
Physical And Chemical ◽  
And Chemical Properties

The study covers the investigation of pesticides in terms of consumption, toxicological classification and various intrinsic physical and chemical properties like DT50, KOC, GUS, solubility that describe the important mechanisms prevailing in soil, namely persistence and mobility. These mechanisms help to estimate the transportation pathways of pesticides on soil till they reach the receiving water after being applied on land. Classification is done in three groups, those likely to appear in surface flow, those that appear in groundwater and those that present transient conditions. Such an approach that also takes into account toxicological levels and annual consumption values of pesticides will act as a tool to prepare the priority list of pesticides that need special care during their transportation. The fate of pesticides is a difficult task to solve, however, such a methodology, puts forth a rough estimate on their behavior in spite of uncertainties in many of the parameters describing mechanisms like persistence and mobility. The agricultural areas of two watersheds of Istanbul are selected as target areas to describe the approach, which is also checked with another approach estimating pesticide pollution potential that considers various other properties of pesticides. Almost similar findings are depicted with 85% proximity. The methodology presented in the paper illustrates and emphasizes the significant role of pesticide properties in determining their fate in soil after being applied.

scholarly journals Nested Recharge Systems in Mountain Block Hydrology: High-Elevation Snowpack Generates Low-Elevation Overwinter Baseflow in a Rocky Mountain River

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 2249
Author(s):  
Éowyn M. S. Campbell ◽  
M. Cathryn Ryan
Keyword(s):  
Rocky Mountain ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Third Order ◽  
Relative Temperature ◽  
Local Flow ◽  
Fracture Systems ◽  
Lower Elevation ◽  
Flow Systems ◽  
Longitudinal Sampling

The majority of each year′s overwinter baseflow (i.e., winter streamflow) in a third-order eastern slopes tributary is generated from annual melting of high-elevation snowpack which is transmitted through carbonate and siliciclastic aquifers. The Little Elbow River and its tributaries drain a bedrock system formed by repeated thrust faults that express as the same siliciclastic and carbonate aquifers in repeating outcrops. Longitudinal sampling over an 18 km reach was conducted at the beginning of the overwinter baseflow season to assess streamflow provenance. Baseflow contributions from each of the two primary aquifer types were apportioned using sulfate, δ34SSO4, and silica concentrations, while δ18OH2O composition was used to evaluate relative temperature and/or elevation of the original precipitation. Baseflow in the upper reaches of the Little Elbow was generated from lower-elevation and/or warmer precipitation primarily stored in siliciclastic units. Counterintuitively, baseflow generated in the lower-elevation reaches originated from higher-elevation and/or colder precipitation stored in carbonate units. These findings illustrate the role of nested flow systems in mountain block recharge: higher-elevation snowmelt infiltrates through fracture systems in the cliff-forming—often higher-elevation—carbonates, moving to the lower-elevation valley through intermediate flow systems, while winter baseflow in local flow systems in the siliciclastic valleys reflects more influence from warmer precipitation. The relatively fast climatic warming of higher elevations may alter snowmelt timing, leaving winter water supply vulnerable to climatic change.

Some Observations on the Role of the Body Wall of Acanthocephalus Ranae in Lipid Uptake

1968 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 217-225
Author(s):  
R. A. HAMMOND
Keyword(s):  
Lipid Droplets ◽  
Body Wall ◽  
The Body ◽  
Lipid Uptake ◽  
Uptake Of Nutrients ◽  
Lipid Excretion

1. Acanthocephalus ranae has been found to take up glyceryl tri[oleate-9,10-3H] solely through the surface of the trunk. The proboscis and lemnisci play no part in the uptake of this material. The large amounts of lipid present in the latter organs may be evidence of their involvement in lipid excretion. 2. Fat-soluble dyes are taken up by the animal and accumulate in lipid droplets in the lemnisci and proboscis wall. It is suggested that such dyes do not enter the animal through the surface of the proboscis, as has been suggested previously, but through the surface of the trunk. 3. The structure of the acanthocephalan body wall is discussed in relation to the uptake of nutrients.

Removal of Total Coliform and TSS for Hospital Wastewater by Optimizing the Role of Typha Angustifolia and Fine Sand-Gravel Media in Horizontal Sub Surface Flow Constructed Wetland

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-31
Author(s):  
Abdul Gani Akhmad
Keyword(s):  
Retention Time ◽  
Hydraulic Retention Time ◽  
Fine Sand ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Total Coliform ◽  
Surface Flow ◽  
Pollutant Removal ◽  
Typha Angustifolia ◽  
Hospital Wastewater

This study aims to evaluate the performance of a pilot-scale HSSF-CW utilizing Typha angustifolia and fine sand-gravel media in removing total coliform and TSS from hospital wastewater. Three pilot-scale HSSF-CW cells measuring 1.00 x 0.45 x 0.35 m3 were filled with gravel sand media with a diameter of 5 - 8 mm as high as 35 cm with a submerged media depth of 0.30 m. There were three treatments, namely the first cell (CW1) without plants, the second cell (CW2) was planted with a density of 12 Typha angustifolia plants, and the third cell (CW3) was planted with a density of 24 Typha angustifolia plants. The three HSSF-CW cells received the same wastewater load with total coliform and TSS contents of 91000 MPN / 100 mg and 53 mg / L, respectively, with Hydraulic Loading Rates 3,375 m3 per day. Wastewater was recirculated continuously to achieve the equivalent HSSF-CW area requirement. The experimental results show that the performance of CW3 is more efficient than CW1 and CW2 in total coliform and TSS removal for hospital wastewater. The pollutant removal efficiency at CW3 reached 91.76% for total coliform with one day hydraulic retention time and 81.00% for TSS with two days of hydraulic retention time. This study concludes that the HSSF-CW system using sand-gravel media with a diameter of 5 - 8 mm with a submerged media depth of 0.30 m and planted with Typha angustifolia with a tighter spacing proved to be more efficient in removing total coliform and TSS from hospital wastewater.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document