Free Water Surface Constructed Wetlands Research Articles

Free water surface constructed wetlands: review of pollutant removal performance and modeling approaches.

Free water surface constructed wetlands (FWSCWs) for the treatment of various wastewater types have evolved significantly over the last few decades. With an increasing need and interest in FWSCWs applications worldwide due to their cost-effectiveness and other benefits, this paper reviews recent literature on FWSCWs' ability to remove different types of pollutants such as nutrients (i.e., TN, TP, NH4-N), heavy metals (i.e., Fe, Zn, and Ni), antibiotics (i.e., oxytetracycline, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, sulfamethazine, and ofloxacin), and pesticides (i.e., Atrazine, S-Metolachlor, imidacloprid, lambda-cyhalothrin, diuron 3,4-dichloroanilin, Simazine, and Atrazine) that may co-exist in wetland inflow, and discusses approaches for simulating hydraulic and pollutant removal processes. A bibliometric analysis of recent literature reveals that China has the highest number of publications, followed by the USA. The collected data show that FWSCWs can remove an average of 61.6%, 67.8%, 54.7%, and 72.85% of inflowing nutrients, heavy metals, antibiotics, and pesticides, respectively. Optimizing each pollutant removal process requires specific design parameters. Removing heavy metal requires the lowest hydraulic retention time (HRT) (average of 4.78days), removing pesticides requires the lowest water depth (average of 0.34m), and nutrient removal requires the largest system size. Vegetation, especially Typha spp. and Phragmites spp., play an important role in FWSCWs' system performance, making significant contributions to the removal process. Various modeling approaches (i.e., black-box and process-based) were comprehensively reviewed, revealing the need for including the internal process mechanisms related to the biological processes along with plants spp., that supported by a further research with field study validations. This work presents a state-of-the-art, systematic, and comparative discussion on the efficiency of FWSCWs in removing different pollutants, main design factors, the vegetation, and well-described models for performance prediction.

Efficient dissipation of acetamiprid, metalaxyl, S-metolachlor and terbuthylazine in a full-scale free water surface constructed wetland in Bologna province, Italy: A kinetic modeling study

The study investigated the dissipation ability of a vegetated free water surface (FWS) constructed wetland (CW) in treating pesticides-contaminated agricultural runoff/drainage water in a rural area belonging to Bologna province (Italy). The experiment simulated a 0.1% pesticide agricultural water runoff/drainage event from a 12.5-ha farm by dissolving acetamiprid, metalaxyl, S-metolachlor, and terbuthylazine in 1000 L of water and pumping it into the CW. Water and sediment samples from the CW were collected for 4 months at different time intervals to determine pesticide concentrations by multiresidue extraction and chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses. In parallel, no active compounds were detected in the CW sediments during the experimental period. Pesticides dissipation in the wetland water compartment was modeled according to best data practices by fitting the data to Single First Order (SFO), First Order Multi-Compartment (FOMC) and Double First Order in Parallel (DFOP) kinetic models. SFO (except for metalaxyl), FOMC and DFOP kinetic models adequately predicted the dissipation for the four investigated molecules, with the DFOP kinetic model that better fitted the observed data. The modeled distribution of each pesticide between biomass and water in the CW highly correlated with environmental indexes as Kow and bioconcentration factor. Computed DT50 by DFOP model were 2.169, 8.019, 1.551 and 2.047 days for acetamiprid, metalaxyl, S-metolachlor, and terbuthylazine, respectively. Although the exact degradation mechanisms of each pesticide require further study, the FWS CW was found to be effective in treating pesticides-contaminated agricultural runoff/drainage water within an acceptable time. Therefore, this technology proved to be a valuable tool for mitigating pesticides runoff occurring after intense rain events.

Bioremediation of Mercury- Polluted Water in Free Water Surface-Constructed Wetland System by <i>Euglena</i> sp. and <i>Echinodorus palifolius</i> (Nees & Mart.) J.F. Macbr.

Mercury accumulation in the aquatic environment can be highly harmful. The body takes mercury vapor through the lungs, then absorbs mercury metal through the digestive system, and then the blood carries the metal to the brain. Bioremediation is the process of breaking down or converting harmful compounds into non-toxic forms, which can be accomplished through phytoremediation or phycoremediation. The goal of this study was to examine the growth and anatomy of Euglena sp. after being cultured in the mercury-containing FWS-CW waste treatment system. The ability of Euglena sp. and Echinodorus palifolius to bioremediate mercury at different concentration as well as association and non-association treatments. This study was carried out in a bioreactor known as FSW-CW (Free Water Surface-Constructed Wetlands). Plant growth (plant height and number of leaves), chlorophyll content, diameter of root and petiole, metaxylem diameter of root, petiole, and leaves, cortical thickness of root and leaves, and petiole anatomy were all measured. Water temperature, pH, salinity, and light intensity were all measured as environmental parameters. Mercury treatment reduced Euglena density (183.5 cells. mL-1103 in control and 12.6 cells. mL-1103 in 100 ppm mercury treatment) and number of E. palifolius leaves, but not plant height and chlorophyll. Root and petiole diameters were affected by the mercury treatment, petiole diameter decreased unless the concentration was 100 ppm, whereas root diameter actually increased. The diameter of the root metaxylem increased, but the petioles and leaves, as well as the thickness of the root cortex, did not provide a significant response. The growth of E. palifolius was still optimal in the presence of Euglena in mercury-containing medium.

Impact of a natural disturbance on the performance and microbial communities in a full-scale constructed wetland for industrial wastewater treatment

Constructed Wetlands (CWs) are a cost-effective, versatile and sustainable choice for wastewater treatment. In these environments, microbial communities play a significant role in pollutant removal. However, little is known about how microbial communities in full-scale CWs contribute to maintaining water quality or how their dynamics change in response to pulse disturbances such as fire or freezes. Furthermore, few studies have examined the relationship between CW microbial community structure and performance in full-scale industrial operations. We characterized the water-column and leaf-litter layer microbial communities in a 110-acre free water surface CW that provides tertiary wastewater treatment to a plastics manufacturing plant. The CW’s sampling campaign was conducted over a 12-month period that included Winter Storm Uri, a 100-year freeze event. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequences revealed that the bacterial communities experienced a temporal shift. There was also a shift in microbial community structure between the influent and the first segment of the CW. However, no differences in microbial community structure were observed in the second segment of the CW. There was a negative association between microbial community diversity and chlorophyll a, as well as microbial community diversity and total suspended solids (TSS); demonstrating an increase in microbial biodiversity as water quality improved throughout the CW. Six months after the freeze, CW performance in terms of removal of water quality constituents began to return to former removal trends. Yet, there was still a significant difference in microbial community structure within the CW relative to the previous year. This suggests CW functional resilience despite a shift in microbial community structure in the wetland.

Application of Free Water Surface Constructed Wetland for Reduction of Brantas River Pollutants

Brantas River is a raw clean water sources that flow through Malang City. The Brantas River water is polluted due to discharging of untreated wastewater, causing a decrease in river water quality. According to these problems, exploring water resources through Brantas River water treatment is essential using Free Water Surface Constructed Wetland (FWSCW) which aims to analyze the performance and improve the water quality of the Brantas River using these wetlands. The research was conducted on a laboratory scale with control treatment and FWSCW with aquatic plants such as Pistia stratiotes, Echinodorus palaefolius, and Heliconia psittacorum. The results showed that pH and temperature were stable, with values between 7.63 to 8.53 and 23°C to 27°C. The removal efficiency of FWSCW and control in reducing turbidity was 99.53% and 98.55%, respectively, and TDS reduction was 0.56% and 2.84%, respectively, for control and FWSCW. The water quality has met the 2nd class of the water quality standards based on Government Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia No. 82 of 2001. At the same time, the efficiency of reducing BOD concentration was 89%. The results show that the FWSCW system can be used as a secondary treatment system to produce clean water.

Microplastic dynamics in a free water surface constructed wetland

This study investigates microplastic (MPs) dynamics of a recently established surface flow 2100 population equivalent polishing constructed wetland (CW) receiving 1.4 ML per day of secondary treated wastewater. MPs type, size ranges and concentrations were measured along the CW at a 2-months sampling campaign. The CW received an average of 5·106 MPs per day (6 MPs per liter), mostly 100–1000 μm-sized synthetic fibers followed by fragments in the same size range. 95 % of MPs were retained, resulting in 0.30 ± 0.09 MPs per liter in CW effluent. Most MPs (97 %) were trapped within the first 20 % of the CW which consisted of a settling pond and shallow vegetated treatment cells and provided an areal removal rate > 4000 MP m−2 d−1. Data and microscopic analysis indicate MPs erosion and fragmentation in the CW. Turbidity and suspended solids were no indicator for MP removal due to water fowl activity, algal growth, and preferential flow conditions. This is the first study on MP dynamics in an independently operating full scale free water surface CW incorporated into a municipal wastewater treatment scheme. Surface flow CWs can retain MPs effectively but accumulation in CW sediments and substrate needs to be considered when further utilized or recycled.

Long-term water quality response to increased hydraulic loadings in a field-scale free water surface constructed wetland treating domestic effluent

There is limited understanding of how constructed wetland (CW) water quality may change over time in response to increased wastewater nutrient and hydraulic loadings. We evaluated long-term water quality trends and drivers for a full-scale (8.19 ha) free water surface CW that was developed in 2001 for the treatment of increasing amounts of pre-treated domestic wastewater from the township of Mount Barker, South Australia. Water quality parameter concentrations and loads, hydraulic loadings rates, trend direction assessments (TDAs), and water quality parameter removal efficiencies were analysed over the study period. The wetland received an annual average loading rate of 947, 19644, 31039, 18140, 2985, and 807 kg year−1 for BOD5, TN, NH4–N, TKN-N, NOx-N, and TP respectively and removed on average 8%, 72%, 73%, 78%, 12% and −246% of these loadings respectively. The average influent concentrations for the study period were 2.6, 42.3, 40.6, 35.9, 9.0, and 1.9 mg L−1 for BOD5, TN, NH4–N, TKN-N, NOx-N, and TP respectively. Average concentration removal rates over the study period were 50%, 39%, 40%, 15%, −216% and −600.5% for TN, NH4–N, TKN-N, NOx-N, BOD5 and TP respectively, suggesting that nitrogen was only partly assimilated by the wetland and it was a source of organic material and phosphorus. Using seasonally and inflow rate adjusted data, TDAs predicted virtually certain increases in TN, NH4–N, and TKN-N influent concentrations over time, a decline in NOx-N, no trend in BOD5, and a possible decreasing trend in TP. The inflow explained variance accounted for approximately 50% of the variation in TN, NH4–N and TKN-N effluent concentrations. Annual removal efficiencies of N declined with increasing hydraulic loads, and hydraulic loading rates varied with management practices. Seasonal analysis showed that N removal was greater during summer and lower in winter. Due to local population growth and various management practices, hydraulic loading is variable and has often exceeded design targets. Our findings indicate the long-term performance of CWs need to be closely monitored, as water quality can deteriorate due to increased hydraulic loadings.

Chemical and biological tracking in decentralized sanitation systems: The case of artificial constructed wetlands

Given that the social and economic sustainability of rural areas is highly based on the protection of natural resources, biodiversity and human health, simple-operated and cost-effective wastewater treatment systems, like artificial constructed wetlands (CWs), are widely proposed for minimizing the environmental and human impact of both water and soil pollution. Considering that the optimization of wastewater treatment processes is vital for the reduction of effluents toxic potential, there is imperative need to establish appropriate management strategies for ensuring CW performance and operational efficiency. To this end, the present study aimed to assess the operational efficiency of a horizontal free water surface CW (HFWS-CW) located in a world heritage area of Western Greece, via a twelve-month duration Toxicity Identification Evaluation (TIE)-like approach, including both chemical and biological tracking tools. Conventional chemical tracking, by means of pH, conductivity, total COD, and nitrogen-derived components, like nitrates and ammonia–nitrogen, were monthly recorded in both influents and effluents to monitor whether water quality standards are maintained, and to assess potent CW operational deficiencies occurring over time. In parallel, Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) bioassays were thoroughly applied, using freshwater algae and higher plant species (producers), crustaceans and rotifers (consumers), as well as human lymphocytes (in terms of Cytokinesis Block Micronucleus assay) to evaluate the acute and short-term toxic and hazardous potential of both influents and effluents. The integrated analysis of abiotic (physicochemical parameters) and biotic (toxic endpoints) parameters, as well as the existence of “cause-effect” interrelations among them, revealed that CW operational deficiencies, mainly based on poorly removal rates, could undermine the risk posed by treated sewage. Those findings reinforce the usage of WET testing, thus giving rise to the importance of applying appropriate water management strategies and optimization actions, like oxygen enrichment of surface and bottom of HFWS-CW basins, expansion of the available land, the enhancement of bed depth and seasonal harvesting of plants, for ensuring sewage quality, in favor of water resources protection and sustainable growth in rural areas.

Acclimation of phytoplankton to diverse environmental variables at the initial operation stage of a free water surface constructed wetland

Phytoplankton played vital roles in aquatic biodiversity and monitoring environmental variations due to the rapid succession of their communities. Weekly studies on phytoplankton species composition and abundance were conducted at a newly established free water surface constructed wetland (FwsCW) from July to October in 2019. Consequences of diversity investigation exhibited there were 124 species of phytoplankton collected, including 57 species or taxa of Bacillariophyta, with the average relative abundance of 44.33 %, 34 species or taxa of Cyanophyta (28.25 %), 17 species or taxa of Chlorophyta (22.62 %), and some of the less collected freshwater community representatives (i.e., Euglenophyta (2.2 %), Pyrrophyta (1.68 %), and Cryptophyta (0.92 %)). The survey credibly revealed the effect of environmental variables on phytoplankton community structure was obvious, especially in the first month (July) and the fourth month (October), and the coexisting species or taxa in each adjacent month were greatly different. Since they entered the FwsCW, existing communities had transited to more diverse ones. The results of principal component analysis (PCA) showed that overall communities’ acclimation process was controlled by hydrochemical and hydrological indices. The most direct factors affecting the growth and reproduction of phytoplankton were the availability of nutrients and the water temperature. The investigation was devoted to the study of some environmental variables which affect the structure of the phytoplankton community, and revealed the importance of integrated management of artificial aquatic ecosystem. The findings also proposed that the long-term operation effects of FwsCW could be pre-evaluated via the structural variation of phytoplankton communities.

Ammonia Removal in Free-Surface Constructed Wetlands Employing Synthetic Floating Islands

Free water surface constructed wetlands (FSCWs) can be used to complement conventional waste water treatment but removal efficiencies are often limited by a high ratio of water volume to biofilm surface area (i.e. high water depth). Floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) consist of floating matrices which can enhance the surface area available for the development of fixed microbial biofilms and provide a platform for plant growth (which can remove pollutants by uptake). In this study the potential of FTWs for ammoniacal nitrogen (AN) removal was evaluated using experimental mesocosms operated under steady-state flow conditions with ten different treatments (two water depths, two levels of FTW mat coverage, two different plant densities and a control, all replicated three times). A simple model was constructed as a framework for understanding N dynamics in each treatment. The model was calibrated using data obtained from one treatment and validated independently for the other treatments. Specifically, we hypothesized that the nitrification and volatilization rate constants are inversely proportional to water depth and proportional to mat surface area. This allowed the relative magnitude of different removal mechanisms to be estimated. The model was able to predict steady-state concentrations of AN and total oxidized nitrogen (TON) across the different treatments well (values for correlation in the regression between measured and predicted steady-state concentrations and RMSE were 0.88 and 0.40 mg N L-1 for AN, and 0.63 and 1.75 mg N L-1 for TON). The results confirm that nitrification is the principal AN removal process, with maximum removal occurring in shallow systems with high matrix cover (i.e. a high ratio of biofilm surface area to water volume). Plant uptake was a relatively minor loss process compared to nitrification. Integrated experimental and model-based approach was found to be a useful tool to improve mechanistic understanding AN dynamics in FSCWs and system performance.

Effect of Loading Rates in Free Water Surface Constructed Wetlands for Treating Polluted Water, Case Study :Bahr El-Baqar Drain (Dept.C)

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Phosphorus removal in a pilot scale free water surface constructed wetland: hydraulic retention time, seasonality and standing stock evaluation

Constructed wetlands (CWs) are decentralized wastewater treatment systems considered to be green and low cost. They have the potential to effectively remove pollutants and recycle nutrients with plant composting. However, they need large areas to implement them due to the usual high Hydraulic Retention Times (HRT), reaching up to 50 days. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of HRT (HRT = 3, 7, and 10 days), and seasonality on Total Phosphorus (TP) removal, and standing stock in a pilot scale free water surface CW (FWS CW). Unplanted and planted (Eichhornia crassipes) tanks were evaluated in wet and dry seasons. The FWS CW was set up as a complementary treatment to a secondary level wastewater treatment plant. The system was monitored weekly for ten months, totalizing 29 replicate samplings (n = 58). Planted tanks were harvested every week to keep free space for plant reproduction (∼40%). The mean removal efficiency of TP ranged between 82% and 95% without a significant difference between HRT (pvalue > 0.05). However, when the effects of the sedimentation of the unplanted tanks were disregarded, the lowest HRT (3 days) tank presented the highest standing stock of TP. The wet season presented a significant difference in TP removal results (pvalue < 0.05), associated with higher macrophyte growth rate due to more intense solar irradiation and incorporation of TP by E. crassipes. The results point out advances in P removal and recycling by a low-cost ecological engineering system.

A decision tree framework to support design, operation, and performance assessment of constructed wetlands for the removal of emerging organic contaminants

There is an increasing focus on research related to the removal of emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) from wastewater by using constructed wetlands (CWs). However, research is lacking on translating the available scientific evidence into decision support tools. In this paper, a novel decision tree framework is developed and demonstrated. The proposed framework consists of five steps: (1) generate a list of EOCs by the analysis of the wastewater; (2) select the best type of CW for each of the selected EOCs; (3) select a final type of CW for the removal of the selected EOCs; (4) identify detailed design and operational features of the proposed CW such as, depth, area, plants, support matrix, hydraulic loading rate, organic loading rate, and hydraulic retention time; and (5) assess the expected removal efficiency of EOCs in the selected CW. A novel decision support tool, named as DTFT-CW, was developed to generate data and information for the application of the proposed decision tree framework. DTFT-CW (given as a supplementary material) was developed using Microsoft Excel 2016 to support decisions on the design, operation, and performance of CWs for the removal of 59 EOCs (33 pharmaceuticals-PhCs, 15 personal care products-PCPs, and 11 steroidal hormones-SHs). The paper demonstrates the usefulness of the developed decision-making tools by considering 19 EOCs (13 PhCs, one PCPs, and five SHs) as an example, which pose high environmental risk and are on the European Union watch list (six of the 19 EOCs). An integrated design of HCW (combining vertical flow CW, horizontal flow CW-HFCW, and free water surface CW) is recommended for the treatment of multiple EOCs instead of a single type of CW such as HFCW that is most widely used in practice. The proposed tools could be useful for decision makers such as policy makers, design engineers, and researchers.

Constructed Wetlands in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Review of Experiences during the Last Decade

The review aims to report the state-of-the-art constructed wetlands (CW) in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region not limited to national and local conditions. The aim is with a broader view, to bring updated and sufficient information, to facilitate the use of the CW technology in the different countries of LAC. Thus, 520 experiences extracted from the 169 reviewed documents in 20 countries were analyzed. According to the data, horizontal subsurface flow wetlands are the most reported CW in the region (62%), the second most common CW technology in the region is free water surface CW (17%), then vertical flow systems (9%), followed by intensified constructed wetlands (8%), and finally French systems (4%). The performance for nutrient removal is analyzed, finding that the mean of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Nitrogen (TN), and Total Phosphorous (TP) removal efficiencies varies from 65% to 83%, 55% to 72%, and 30% to 84%, respectively. The results suggest a generally good performance for COD and TN removal, but a low performance for TP removal. Regarding plant species used for CWs, 114 different plant species were reported, being until now the most extensive report about plant species used in CWs in the LAC region.

Network-based perspective on water-air interface GHGs flux on a cascade surface-flow constructed wetland in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China

Constructed wetlands (CW), while providing multiple ecosystem services, bring significant changes in greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions to the atmosphere. To systematically analyze the source-flow-sink of three GHGs (CO2, CH4 and N2O), the Huoshaogou multi-stage free water surface CW in Qinghai Province, China was chosen as the research area. The static chamber-gas chromatography method was utilized to detect GHGs flux of the 6-year old CW. Ecological network analysis (ENA) was utilized to demonstrate the carbon-related source-flow-sink of the CW. By comparing the results of the wetland site with a reference site, we found that: (1) The average GHG emission flux (2018 and 2019) in the wetland area, with an average of 212.27 mg/m2·h (CO2), 8.84 mg/m2·h (CH4), and 197.4 μg/m2·h (N2O), is about 5.8 times the average flux in the reference site; (2) Wetland plants' contribution to GHGs emissions was reduced by 12% when compared with the reference site; (3) The increasing linkages and inter-flow intensity led to more homogeneous emission distribution of GHGs; (4) The pelagic food chain became dominant over the benthic food chain in photoplankton-related carbon flows, resulting in more GHG emission from the bottom of the CW.

Performance Comparison of Different Constructed Wetlands Designs for the Removal of Personal Care Products

This research investigates the performance of four types of constructed wetlands (CWs): free water surface CW (FWSCW), horizontal flow CW (HFCW), vertical flow CW (VFCW), and hybrid CW (HCW) for the removal of 20 personal care products (PCPs), based on secondary data compiled for 137 CWs reported in 39 peer reviewed journal papers. In spite of considerable variation in the re-moval efficiency of PCPs, CWs prove to be a promising treatment technology. The average removal efficiency of 15 widely studied PCPs ranged from 9.0% to 84%. Although CWs effectively reduced the environmental risks caused by many PCPs, triclosan was still classified under high risk category based on effluent concentration. Five other PCPs were classified under medium risk category (triclocarban > methylparaben > galaxolide > oxybenzone > methyl dihydrojasmonate). In most of the examined PCPs, adsorption and/or sorption is the most common removal mechanism followed by biodegradation and plant uptake. The comparatively better performance of HCW followed by VFCW, HFCW, and FWSCW might be due to the co-existence of aerobic and anaerobic conditions, and longer hydraulic retention time enhancing the removal of PCPs (e.g., triclosan, methyl dihydro-jasmonate, galaxolide, tonalide, and oxybenzone), which are removed under both conditions and by adsorption/sorption processes.

Performance comparison of different types of constructed wetlands for the removal of pharmaceuticals and their transformation products: a review.

This paper presents a comprehensive and critical comparison of four types of constructed wetlands (CWs): free water surface CW (FWSCW), vertical flow CW (VFCW), horizontal flow CW (HFCW), and hybrid CW (HCW) for the removal of 29 pharmaceuticals (PhCs) and 19 transformation products (TPs) using a global data compiled for 247 CWs reported in 63 peer-reviewed journal papers. Biodegradation (aerobic being more efficient than anaerobic) is the major removal mechanism for 16 out of 29 PhCs besides the influence of other processes (e.g., adsorption/sorption, plant uptake, and photodegradation). The HCW performed better followed by VFCW, HFCW, and FWSCW. The comparatively better removal in HCW might be due to the coexistence of aerobic and anaerobic conditions and longer hydraulic retention time considering more than one compartment enhances the removal of PhCs (e.g., diclofenac, acetaminophen, sulfamethoxazole, sulfapyridine, trimethoprim, and atenolol), which are removed under both conditions and adsorption/sorption processes. The augmentation in dissolved oxygen by the application of artificial aeration improved the removal of PhCs, which are degraded under aerobic conditions. Furthermore, the better performance of aerated CWs could be due to the establishment of various microenvironments with different physicochemical conditions (aerobic and anaerobic), which facilitated the contribution of both aerobic and anaerobic metabolic pathways in the removal of PhCs. The removal of some of the PhCs takes place by the formation of their TPs and the nature of these TPs (persistent or non-biodegradable/biodegradable) plays a major role in their removal process.

Assessment of a batch-flow free water surface constructed wetland planted with Rhynchospora corymbosa (L.) Britton for campus greywater treatment.

A pilot-scale batch-flow free water surface (FWS) constructed wetland (CW) system planted with Rhynchospora corymbosa (L.) Britton was developed with a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 2.5days. The average porosity of the substrate was 0.55 and calculated hydraulic loading rate (HLR) was 3.96 (g BOD/m2-day). Quantitative and qualitative characterization of the greywater were done. The concentrations of pollutants in the greywater before and after it was fed into the FWS CWs were measured using standard sampling and analyses methods. The average daily per capita water use estimated was 162L, out of which 72.5L was greywater. The mean removal efficiencies (RE) of the CWs were 81% COD, 85% TN, 82% TK, 10% TP, 0.2% pH, 81% TSS, Zn 91%, 81% Al, 94% Mg, and 90% Fe. It was observed that the FWS with batch-flow configuration tested in the study was slightly different in terms of results reported on the conventional continuous flow system. R. corymbosa as a macrophyte has roots that can provide a surface area for microbial growth and oxygen exchange and can be used as emergent macrophytes in phytoremediation of greywater. The result provided information on the performance and pollutant removal efficiency of a batch-operated FWS CW system planted with R. corymbosa.

Photovoltaic electrolysis improves nitrogen and phosphorus removals of biochar-amended constructed wetlands

To deeply remove nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from constructed wetlands (CWs), the authors found that CWs can be combined with the use of photovoltaic energy for best results. Thus, electrolysis-integrated, biochar-amended, horizontal (subsurface)-flow-constructed wetlands (E-BHFCWs) were combined with free-water, surface-constructed wetlands (FWSCWs) to remove N and P from secondary effluent water of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Photovoltaic energy was used for electrolysis to intensify the removal of nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N), ammonium nitrogen (NH3-N), and phosphate phosphorus (PO43−-P) in E-BHFCWs. In addition, FWSCWs were constructed to further remove NO3−-N, NH3-N, PO43−-P and iron ions in effluent of E-BHFCWs and to enhance DO concentration. For the E-BHFCWs combined with FWSCWs, the removal rates of NO3−-N, NH3-N, and PO43−-P were 73.28%, 53.11% and 67.58% respectively. The removal amounts of NO3−-N, NH3-N, and PO43−-P were about 211.08 kg N/a, 64.81 kg N/a and 10.46 kg P/a by E-BHFCWs. Photovoltaic electrolysis in E-BHFCWs was able to enhance NO3−-N removal through electrochemical reduction by iron cathodes, enriched hydrogenotrophic bacteria in the substrate, and by modified biochar substrate in situ with iron ions. Meanwhile, NH3-N was mainly removed by modified biochar adsorption, nitrifying microbes, and plant uptake. The removal rate of PO43−-P was also enhanced due to the formation of ferric ions by the anodization of sacrificial iron anodes, causing chemical precipitation, physical adsorption, and flocculation of PO43−-P. Thus, E-BHFCWs combined with FWSCWs are capable of effectively promoting removals of NO3−-N, NH3-N, and PO43−–P and provide a new insight into a new energy flow that can enhance N and P removals of CWs.

Combined natural wastewater treatment systems for removal of organic matter and phosphorus from polluted streams

Natural wastewater treatment (NWT) systems may be a most suitable and economical solution method to ensure a cleaner environment and sustainable production in control of water pollution. Therefore, in this study, a NWT system was designed to reduce existing pollution in over-polluted Kızılca creek (Nigde, Turkey). The combined system consists of a settlement basin (SB), free water surface constructed wetland (FWS-CW) planted with Phragmites communis, and overland flow (OF) system planted with Italian ryegrass, respectively. The system was installed on the edge of the creek in 2014. Over-polluted creek water was treated by passing through the system, and the treated water was discharged into the creek. Total suspended solid (TSS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total phosphorus (TP) parameters were analyzed on samples taken from the inputs and outputs of all stages of the system. During an operating period of about 18 months, it was observed that the pollutant parameters were reduced to a great extent. Despite the high organic loading, it was determined that the treatment system could remove the TSS and the BOD up to 85%, and the TP up to 49%. Average removals were found to be higher in warm weather conditions where vegetation could grow best. Results suggest that the combined NWT systems can be used as a low-cost wastewater treatment alternative to improve the water quality of polluted streams in similar areas.