Treatment of log yard runoff in a couch grass infiltration wetland in Sweden

Abstract

Sprinkling is often used in Scandinavia to protect round wood stored for industrial use from fungal and insect attack and drying cracks. Log yard runoff can be harmful for the water recipient due to eutrophication and oxygen depletion. A wetland system for treatment of log yard runoff is being evaluated in central Sweden. The purification capacity of a sloping couch grass (Elytrigia repens L.) field was examined when log yard runoff was applied to the field through a sprinkling system. Water samples were taken from groundwater pipes during four summer seasons (May to September, 2002–2005) and analysed for total organic carbon, total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen and distillable phenols to evaluate the purification capacity of the infiltration wetland. Results from 2002 to 2004 were compared with results from 2005 when the irrigation intensity was considerably lower. Overall, the results showed good purification capacity although the concentrations of TP in the groundwater increased during 2005. The reduced hydraulic load did not increase purification.