Treatment of swine wastewater with subsurface-flow constructed wetlands in Yucatán, Mexico: Influence of plant species and contact time

The present work evaluated the influence of filling substrate material (crushed PET bottles or fine gravel) on the efficiency of pollutant removal in horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands (HSSF-CWs). They were cultivated with a consortium of elephant grass cv. Napier (Pennisetum purpureum Schum) and Tifton 85 (Cynodon spp.) to treat wastewater from a common milk cooling tank (WWMT). For this, six HSSF-CWs were used which had dimensions of 0.6 m tall x 1.0 m wide x 2.5 m long. In order to investigate possible efficiency loss in the removal of pollutants from the system, operation was divided into two periods: Period I (from April to December 2015) and Period II (April to December 2016). Thus, the removal efficiencies of BOD5, solids and total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), potassium (K) and sodium (Na) from WWMT were statistically compared. Results indicated that the efficiency of the HSSF-CWs for removing pollutants increased or remained similar after one year and nine months of their operation; and PET bottles were a viable alternative substrate in HSSF-CWs based on the efficient removal of pollutants from WWMT during the one year and nine months of monitoring. Crushed PET bottles constitute a viable substrate for filling HSSF-CWs. Altering the cultivation positions of the plant species did not change pollutant removal efficiencies, but indicates the importance of species arrangement to maximize system performance.

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Evaluation of unclogging aspects in horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2016.369 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 74 (7) ◽

pp. 1594-1601 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Suymara Toledo Miranda ◽

Antonio Teixeira de Matos ◽

Gheila Corrêa Ferres Baptestini ◽

Alisson Carraro Borges

Keyword(s):

Constructed Wetlands ◽

Nutrient Solution ◽

Flow Direction ◽

Subsurface Flow ◽

Swine Wastewater ◽

Alternanthera Philoxeroides ◽

Alligator Weed ◽

Before And After ◽

Horizontal Subsurface Flow ◽

Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetlands

In horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands (HSSF-CWs), the main operational problem is clogging of the porous medium. In this study, the unclogging of HSSF-CWs was evaluated, at rest, by adding a nitrogen-based nutrient solution to the influent. For this, six HSSF-CWs were used, consisting of two uncultivated (CW-C), two cultivated with Tifton 85-grass (Cynodon spp.) (CW-T) and two cultivated with alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) (CW-A), which were fully clogged after being used for the treatment of swine wastewater. The results indicated that passage of the nutrient solution for 55 days through the bed of the HSSF-CWs resulted in reductions of 11 and 33%, respectively, in the total volatile solids (TVS) concentration of fine clogging material in the CW-T and CW-A. With regard to the TVS content of the coarse clogging material, the reduction was even greater, being 33% for CW-T and 62% for CW-A. Measurements of K0 made along the beds (thirds 1, 2 and 3) before and after passage of the nutrient solution in the CWs indicated respective increases of 7, 13 and 0.1% in CW-C; 21, 11 and 7% in CW-T; and 52%, 6% and −6% (decrease) in CW-A. Runoff of the nutrient solution decreased gradually over time, presenting at the beginning of the experiment 26, 35 and 150 cm, and at the end (after 55 days of application) 0, 0 and 50 cm in the flow direction of the CW-C and CW-T and CW-A, respectively.

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Temperature Effects on Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetlands: Performance in Midwest

Engineering Approaches to Ecosystem Restoration ◽

10.1061/40382(1998)10 ◽

1998 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

M. F. Dahab ◽

S. M. Vanier

Keyword(s):

Constructed Wetlands ◽

Temperature Effects ◽

Subsurface Flow ◽

Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetlands

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ENERGY PRODUCTION FROM WASTEWATER USING HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL SUBSURFACE FLOW CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS

Environmental Engineering and Management Journal ◽

10.30638/eemj.2014.281 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 13 (10) ◽

pp. 2517-2523 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Jose Villasenor Camacho ◽

Maria del Carmen Montano Vico ◽

Manuel Andres ◽

Rodrigo Rodrigo ◽

Francisco Jesus Fernandez Morales ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Constructed Wetlands ◽

Energy Production ◽

Subsurface Flow ◽

Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetlands

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Field-Scale Studies of Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetlands for Stormwater Quality Enhancement

Water Quality Research Journal ◽

10.2166/wqrj.1997.008 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 101-118 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Q.J. ROCHFORT ◽

W.E. Watt ◽

J. Marsalek ◽

B.C. Anderson ◽

A.A. Crowder

Keyword(s):

Organic Carbon ◽

Constructed Wetlands ◽

Suspended Solids ◽

Nutrient Loading ◽

Subsurface Flow ◽

Reaction Rates ◽

Pollutant Removal ◽

Order Kinetic ◽

Dissolved Metals ◽

Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetlands

Abstract Two subsurface flow constructed wetlands were tested for pollutant removal performance in conjunction with an on-line stormwater detention pond, in Kingston Township, Ontario. The 4.9 m2 wetland cells were filled with 9 mm limestone gravel, and planted with cattail, common reed and spike rush. Changes in nutrient (total organic carbon, PO43- and NH4+), suspended solids and metal (Cu, Pb, Zn) concentrations were used to assess performance. Contaminant removal occurred through a combination of physical, chemical and biological means. As with any biological system, variation in performance of stormwater wetlands can be expected to occur as a result of fluctuations in contaminant loading, contact time and ambient environmental conditions. Storm pond effluent was delivered in continuous flow through the wetlands (during baseflow and event conditions), with a detention time of 1 to 3 days. The wetlands were able to maintain removal rates of up to 39% for orthophosphate even during the more severe conditions of fall dieback. Average removal of suspended solids (46%) and dissolved metals (Cu 50%) remained similar throughout all tests. Organic carbon was reduced by less than 10% during these tests. Low nutrient levels in the pond effluent were supplemented by spiking with sources of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus during pulsed loading conditions. Daily sampling produced a time series, which illustrated the rates of decline in concentration of nutrients. First order kinetic assimilation rates ranged from 1.7 d-1 for NH4002B to 0.12 d-1 for organic carbon, which were noticeably lower when compared with municipal and industrial wastewater treatment rates. Three methods of sizing stormwater wetlands (impervious surface area, volumetric load and kinetic reaction rates) were compared using the same design storm and data from this study. From this comparison it was seen that the kinetic sizing approach proved to be the most versatile, and allowed for adaptation to northern climatic conditions and anticipated nutrient loading.

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