Abstract
AbstractA greenhouse study using aquatic macrophytes rooted in sand was conducted to test if the presence of belowground plant material increases or maintains permeability in horizontal subsurface flow systems constructed for wastewater treatment. Nutrient solutions low in suspended solids (SS) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) were substituted for actual wastewater. Three batch applications of NH4‐N and three of NO3‐N were added for 48‐h periods at concentrations of approximately 20, 55, and 80 mg L−1 to assess the ability of these systems to remove N. Saturated hydraulic conductivity, Ks, was monitored over 236 d in boxes of sand planted with two different aquatic macrophytes—Typha glauca Godr. and Scirpus acutus Muhl. The Ks decreased over time in the vegetated and nonvegetated (control) systems. The decrease was significantly greater in the vegetated systems (55%) than in the control (41%). Despite these decreases, Ks at the end of the study was still high (0.62 cm s−1) even in the vegetated systems. The vegetated systems were significantly more effective than the nonvegetated at removal of NH4‐N and NO3‐N. No significant difference was noted in the N removal efficiency of the two plant species. Our results suggest that artificial wetlands using sand can be used to remove N from wastewater, but decreased soil permeability may occur.
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