Removing filterable reactive phosphorus from highly coloured stormwater using constructed wetlands

2001 ◽  
Vol 44 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 85-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.A. Lund ◽  
P.S. Lavery ◽  
R.F. Froend

A constructed wetland design, consisting of 16 repeating cells was proposed for Henley Brook (Perth, Western Australia) to optimise the removal of FRP from urban stormwater. Three replicate experimental ponds (15×5 m), were constructed to represent at a 1:1 scale a single cell from this design. Three 5 m zones of each pond were sampled: shallow (0.3 m) vegetated (Schoenoplectus validus) inflow and outflow zones and a deeper (1 m), V-shaped central zone. In 1998/99, inflows and outflow waters were intensively sampled and analysed for FRP and Total P. In addition, all major pools of P (plants, sediment) within the ponds, and important P removal processes (benthic flux, uptake by biofilm and S. validus) were quantified. A removal efficiency of 5% (1998) and 10% (1999) was obtained for FRP. Initial uptake was mainly in plant biomass, although the sediment became an increasingly important sink. Benthic flux experiments showed that anoxia did not cause release of P from sediments, indicating that most of the P was bound as apatite rather than associated with Fe or Mn. The highly coloured waters were believed responsible for the very low biofilm biomass recorded (<1 g.m-2). We have demonstrated that constructed wetlands can be effective for removing FRP immediately after construction, although their long-term removal capacity needs further research.

2011 ◽  
Vol 63 (8) ◽  
pp. 1629-1637 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Harouiya ◽  
S. Martin Rue ◽  
S. Prost-Boucle ◽  
A. Liénar ◽  
D. Esser ◽  
...  

Phosphorus (P) removals in constructed wetlands (CWs) have received particular attention in recent decades by using specific materials which promote adsorption/precipitation mechanisms. Recent studies have shown interest in using apatite materials to promote P precipitation onto the particle surface. As previous trials were mainly done by lab experiments, this present study aims to evaluate the real potential of apatites to remove P from wastewater in pilot units and a full-scale plant over a 2 year period. P retention kinetics of two qualities of apatites are presented and discussed. In this work apatite appears to have high retention capacity (>80% of P removal) and is still an interesting way for P removal in CWs for limiting the risk of eutrophication downstream of small communities. Nevertheless, the apatite quality appears to be of great importance for a reliable and long term P removal. The use of materials with low content of apatite mineral (40–50%) seems to be not economically relevant.


2001 ◽  
Vol 44 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 61-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
S-Y. Kim ◽  
P.M. Geary

Two species of macrophytes, Baumea articulata and Schoenoplectus mucronatus, were examined for their capacity to remove phosphorus under nutrient-rich conditions. Forty large bucket systems with the two different species growing in two types of substrate received artificial wastewaters for nine months, simulating a constructed wetland (CW) under high loading conditions. Half of the plants growing in the topsoil and gravel substrates were periodically harvested whereas the other half remained intact. Plant tissue and substrate samples were regularly analysed to determine their phosphorus concentrations. With respect to phosphorus uptake and removal, the Schoenoplectus in the topsoil medium performed better than the Baumea. Biomass harvesting enhanced P uptake in the Schoenoplectus, however the effect was not significant enough to make an improvement on the overall P removal, due to the slow recovery of plants and regrowth of biomass after harvesting. From P partitioning, it was found that the topsoil medium was the major P pool, storing most of total P present in the system. Plant parts contributed only minor storage with approximately half of that P stored below ground in the plant roots. The overall net effect of harvesting plant biomass was to only remove less than 5% of total phosphorus present in the system.


1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 307-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Schönborn ◽  
Brigitta Züst ◽  
Evelyn Underwood

The human waste concept of the Centre for Applied Ecology Schattweid, Switzerland combines treatment of feces in compost toilets and a constructed wetland for the liquid wastes. The wastewater of 5.1 population equivalents (greywater and urine) is treated in a two chambered settling tank followed by an underground vertical flow sand filter and a horizontal flow constructed wetland. The wastewater system has been in operation since 1985. Its performance has been monitored on COD, NH4-N, NO3-N, NO2-N, Total-P and Total-N almost monthly since then, and on other parameters (Total-Fe, Cl) occasionally. COD elimination (91.4 %) and Total-P removal (90.6%) were stable over the years, whereas NH4-N and Total-N elimination have improved markedly from around 55% to 93.0% (NH4-N) and 80.0% (Total-N). Performance in winter was excellent. The addition of an easily degradable carbon source to the plant filter in summer 1991 led to a markedly decreased phosphorus retention and a washout of iron during the experiment.


2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Molle ◽  
S. Martin ◽  
D. Esser ◽  
S. Besnault ◽  
C. Morlay ◽  
...  

Phosphorus (P) removal in constructed wetlands (CWs) has received particular attention during the last decades by using specific materials which promote P adsorption/precipitation phenomena. Recent studies have shown an interest in using apatite materials to promote P precipitation onto their surface. About ten years of experiments at different scales (laboratory, pilot, full scale) have passed. The process is now open in France. This paper presents the first design recommendations according to the apatite mineral quality and treatment outlet requirements. Kinetics and their evolution with the material saturation degree are presented based on the k-C* model. The process can achieve 1 mgP.l−1 for long term while using surface P removal filter area of 0.5 m2.p.e.−1. With a low land footprint and high P removal efficiency, the interest of the process also result in the orthophosphates accumulation on a phosphate mineral which makes easier to reuse phosphorus from wastewater once saturated


2017 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 861-875
Author(s):  
Dinku M. Endale ◽  
Harry H. Schomberg ◽  
Dwight S. Fisher ◽  
Lloyd B. Owens ◽  
Michael B. Jenkins ◽  
...  

Abstract. Well-managed grazing systems can provide valuable ecosystem services, such as reducing sediment and phosphorus (P) loading to nearby waterways. However, the available long-term data to fully support this hypothesis are limited. In this article, we describe flow-weighted concentrations (FWCs) and loads for dissolved reactive P (DRP), total P (TP), iron (Fe), and aluminum (Al) over 11 years (1999-2009) from a 7.8 ha rotationally grazed pasture (W1) near Watkinsville, Georgia. The region is characterized by Fe and Al rich and acidic Ultisols. Cattle numbering 21 to 224 (mean 91) grazed W1 on 69 occasions for 1 to 71 d (mean 19.2). Of 74 runoff events, 20 occurred when the monthly rainfall was below the long-term average (deficit period) and 54 occurred during non-deficit periods. Samples were collected from 43 of 74 runoff events for nutrient analyses. Event FWC (mg L-1) ranged from 0.38 to 7.07 for DRP (mean 1.91), from 0.36 to 7.60 for TP (mean 2.43), from 0.03 to 0.55 for Fe (mean 0.23), and from 0.43 to 553 µg L-1 for Al (mean 65 µg L-1). Event load (kg ha-1) ranged from 0.00 to 0.45 for DRP (mean 0.10), from 0.00 to 0.55 for TP (mean 0.12), from 0.00 to 0.11 for Fe (mean 0.02), and from 0.00 to 0.10 for Al (mean 0.01). The total load (kg ha-1) was 4.12 for DRP, 5.12 for TP, 0.71 for Fe, and 0.25 for Al. DRP accounted for 80% of the TP FWC and load. Cattle presence increased sediment load, but the difference was not statistically significant. There was high correlation between Fe and DRP loads (r = 0.87), a likely indicator of erosion-induced losses due to cattle treading. Cattle presence increased FWCs but not loads for DRP and TP. The FWCs for DRP and TP were not different between deficit and non-deficit periods, but mean loads were 3-fold to 4-fold greater during non-deficit periods. Means from the six largest P loss events were 3-fold greater for FWC and 7-fold greater for load than the remaining 37 events. These six large events accounted for 53% of the total P load. Less than 1% of the inorganic P applied and redeposited through manure was lost in runoff. The study demonstrated that hydrologic transport processes were the dominant drivers of pollutant fluxes and highlighted the possible mitigation of pollutant fluxes through grazing management that includes maintenance of good grass cover, effective rotational grazing, and limited fertilization. Keywords: Calving, Cattle, Dissolved reactive phosphorus, Drought, Eutrophication, Manure, Runoff, Total phosphorus, Water quality.


1985 ◽  
Vol 17 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 297-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takao Murakami ◽  
Atsushi Miyairi ◽  
Kazuhiro Tanaka

In Japan various biological phosphorus removal processes have recently been researched by laboratory or pilot plant scale studies and most of them have shown good results. Based on these results, the Japan Sewage Works Agency has conducted a full scale study of the biological phosphorus removal process from June 1982 until February 1983, which was the first full scale operation of this process in Japan. The main purpose of the study was to evaluate phosphorus removal efficiency and also nitrogen removal efficiency of the process and in addition, to ascertain the important operating factors of the process. For the study a treatment train of a large scale sewage treatment plant was remodelled. The aeration tank of 3.825 m3 volume was divided into four equal cells. The whole train including return sludge line was operated entirely independently of the other trains. During the experiment the train was operated under two different modes, Mode 1 and Mode 2. In Mode 1, the train was operated as an A/O process, the first cell of the aeration tank being anaerobic and the other cells oxic. In Mode 2, the train was operated as a Modified Phoredox process. In this case, the first cell was anaerobic, but the second cell was anoxic and nitrified liquor was returned to it from the end of the oxic cells. Mode 1 and Mode 2 were further divided into many ‘runs' and the flow rate varied between 12,550 m3 d−1 and 25,270 m3 d−1 , corresponding to retention times of 7.3 hours and 3.6 hours, respectively. Throughout the experimental period the mean value of influent (primary effluent) total-P concentration was 3.38 mg 1−1 , and that of the final effluent was 0.47 mg 1−1 . A cumulated frequency curve of the data showed that about 93% of measured effluent total-P was below 1.0 mg l−1 . Therefore, it can be concluded that with these influent total-P levels, biological phosphorus removal processes can sufficiently satisfy the effluent standard of 1 mg 1−1 total-P. Even when the process was operated as a Modified Phoredox Process, no obstruction to phosphorus removal because of nitrification was observed and phosphorus removal remained good. However, since the sewage treatment plant treated influent from a combined sewerage system, phosphorus removal was sometimes affected by heavy rainfalls. In such cases phosphorus release in the anaerobic cell was insufficient because of increased influent NOx concentration and accordingly increased denitrification level in the anaerobic cell. Therefore, as a result, enhanced phosphorus uptake in the following cells could not be observed. Higher process stability can be expected if an effective countermeasure to high influent NOx concentration can be made. Influence of flow rate fluctuation on the process was also studied. The treatment train was operated for a week under a daily flow rate fluctuation pattern which ranged between 460 m3 hr−1 and 820 m3 hr−1 . Nevertheless, the effluent total-P concentration showed no increase and stayed constantly lower than 0.5 mg 1−1. The oxidation reduction potential (ORP) was an effective control index to evaluate the degree of phosphorus release in the anaerobic cell. Water temperature did not affect phosphorus release and uptake rates.


2013 ◽  
Vol 70 (7) ◽  
pp. 941-952 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam R. Hoffman ◽  
David E. Armstrong ◽  
Richard C. Lathrop

Internal regulatory controls of phosphorus (P) via iron (Fe) scavenging were quantified in four contrasting dimictic Wisconsin lakes: Mendota (eutrophic, calcareous), Fish (mesotrophic, calcareous), Devil’s (mesotrophic, noncalcareous), and Sparkling (oligotrophic, noncalcareous). Hypolimnetic enrichment of P was highest in Mendota and Devil’s and least in Fish and Sparkling. This enrichment was attributed mainly to internal loading in the noncalcareous lakes and regeneration of sedimenting epilimnetic P in the calcareous lakes. Differences in Fe scavenging efficiencies at fall turnover were related to hypolimnetic Fe:P molar ratios as well as Fe availability and its control by sulfate–sulfide chemistries. In the noncalcareous lakes with high hypolimnetic Fe enrichment (Fe:P > 2), 45% of whole-lake total P was removed. P removal was low (<20%) in the two calcareous lakes with minimal Fe enrichment (Fe:P < 2). These differences in hypolimnetic P enrichment and subsequent Fe scavenging at fall turnover help to explain the differences in the amount of P available for subsequent spring and summer primary production as well as the differences in trophic state of the four lakes.


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