The Effect of Domestic Sewage Treatment on Islands Using Ecological Treatment Processes: A Case Study of Haimen Island, Fujian Province

Abstract

Islands are characterized by a lack of land and freshwater resources, public finances, and technical personnel. As a result, domestic sewage may not be effectively treated, which can lead to major pollution on islands and in the surrounding sea areas. In this study, a pilot treatment of domestic sewage was conducted using an ecological treatment process (i.e., a constructed wetland and ecological pond) in an abandoned pond located on Haimen Island, Fujian Province, China. The pollutant indicators were monitored to analyze this treatment method at different treatment stages. The results showed that the combination of multiple ecological treatment processes had favorable treatment effects on various pollutants in the sewage. The treatment rates of the chemical oxygen demand (CODCr) and suspended solids (SS) surpassed 88%. The treatment rate of the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and fecal coliform surpassed 93%, and all the indicators met or were close to the level I B emission standards for urban sewage treatment plants. Different treatment stages have different treatment effects on different pollutants. The constructed wetland played an important role in sewage treatment through plant absorption, substrate adsorption, sedimentation, and microbial decomposition, particularly for the TP, CODCr, and BOD5. In contrast, algal photosynthesis in the ecological pond produced a large amount of dissolved oxygen, and the treatment effect was highest for the TN and NH3-N. The treatment effects on the fecal coliform in the constructed wetland and ecological pond were very significant. Ecological treatment processes based on the combination of a constructed wetland and ecological pond have favorable treatment effects, low construction and maintenance costs, and pollution-free conditions, which are suitable for application in island areas.