Natural Treatment Systems Research Articles

Vertical profiling and modelling of Escherichia coli decay in a shallow maturation pond operating in a tropical climate

ABSTRACTMaturation ponds are excellent natural treatment systems for disinfecting domestic wastewater from pathogenic bacteria because of their great sunlight exposure through depth and high pH and dissolved oxygen values – all considered important factors. Escherichia coli (E. coli) removal is higher at closer to the surface of the pond and proceeds to decrease due to the limited amount of sunlight at deeper depths. To quantify the decay coefficients (Kb) of E. coli in a shallow maturation pond, quartz vessels were used to create isolated batch experiments and submerged at different depths inside the pond during different periods of the day (morning and afternoon). Kb values ranged from 0.48 to 0.28 h−1, considering different depths and both periods. A dark control vessel was also used to quantify dark decay rates (Kd) at the same depth and periods as the quartz vessels, and ranged from 0.14 to 0.04 h−1. Environmental variables did not appear to influence overall disinfection. Two models for estimating final E. coli concentrations were proposed, considering the kinetic coefficients obtained in the batch experiments and the dispersed flow regime for continuous flow ponds, which resulted in very good fittings with monitoring data and demonstrated the vertical profiling of E. coli concentration.

Performance evaluation of a natural treatment system for small communities, composed of a UASB reactor, maturation ponds (baffled and unbaffled) and a granular rock filter in series

ABSTRACTPost-treatment of anaerobic reactor effluent with maturation ponds is a good option for small to medium-sized communities in tropical climates. The treatment line investigated, operating in Brazil, with an equivalent capacity to treat domestic sewage from 250 inhabitants, comprised a upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor followed by two shallow maturation ponds (unbaffled and baffled) and a granular rock filter (decreasing grain size) in series, requiring an area of only 1.5 m2 inhabitant−1. With an overall hydraulic retention time of only 6.7 days, the performance was excellent for a natural treatment system. Based on over two years of continuous monitoring, median removal efficiencies were: biochemical oxygen demand = 93%, chemical oxygen demand = 79%, total suspended solids = 87%, ammonia = 43% and Escherichia coli = 6.1 log units. The final effluent complied with European discharge standards and WHO guidelines for some forms of irrigation, and appeared to be a suitable alternative for treating domestic sewage for small communities in warm areas, especially in developing countries.

Carbon catabolite repression and cell dispersal affect degradation of the xenobiotic compound 3,4-dichloroaniline in Comamonas testosteroni WDL7 biofilms.

Organic pollutant degrading biofilms in natural ecosystems and water treatment systems are often exposed to other carbon sources in addition to the pollutant. The availability of auxiliary carbon sources can lead to surplus biomass growth, changes in biofilm structure and carbon catabolite repression (CCR) which together will affect pollutant degradation rate and efficiency of the system. To understand the interplay between these processes, continuous biofilms of the 3,4-dichloroaniline (3,4-DCA) degrading Comamonas testosteroni WDL7-RFP were grown in single- and dual-substrate conditions with 3,4-DCA and/or citrate and reciprocal effects on 3,4-DCA/citrate degradation, biofilm biomass and biofilm structure were examined. The main mechanism affecting 3,4-DCA degradation in biofilms in dual-substrate conditions was citrate-mediated CCR as reflected by a decrease in specific 3,4-DCA degrading activity. Growth on citrate partially compensated for the lowered specific 3,4-DCA degradation activity under dual substrate conditions but not to the extent expected from growth observed under single-substrate conditions with citrate. This was explained by higher residual 3,4-DCA concentrations in the presence of citrate that increased cell dispersal in the biofilms. Our results show hampered pollutant removal in biofilms due to a complex interplay of auxiliary organic C source utilization for growth affecting the specific pollutant degradation rate and changes in cell physiology due to increased exposure to the pollutant as a result of lowered pollutant degradation rates.

Horizontal subsurface-flow constructed wetland removal efficiency using Cyperus articulatus L.

Constructed Wetlands (CW) are a suite of natural wastewater treatment systems that are governed by biological, chemical and physical processes. These processes, in tandem, regulate the removal of organic and inorganic wastewater pollutants. Both aquatic microorganisms and aquatic macrophytes can transform and uptake contaminants from wastewater and achieve higher removal efficiencies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Cyperus articulatus, a Colombian native aquatic macrophyte, on removal of dissolved organic matter and nitrogenous compounds from domestic wastewater. Experiments were conducted in replicate pilot-scale Horizontal Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetlands (HSSF CWs). Four (4) wetland treatment units were installed in parallel. Two were planted with C. articulatus and the other two remained as unplanted controls. The experimental system was hydraulically connected to a 760L septic tank, which functioned as a primary treatment module and fed experimental wetland treatment units. Each wetland unit was filled with granite gravel (8mm average diameter and approximately 40% porosity) to a depth of 0.5m. During a period of four-months, each treatment unit was provided with 29Lday−1 of clarified domestic wastewater, ensuring a Hydraulic Retention Time of three (3) days. Wastewater samples from influent and effluents were collected twice each week in order to monitor temporal/spatial changes in concentration of chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) and nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N). At the end of the experiment, plant biomass was collected and dried to constant weight to facilitate calculations and reporting of plant biomass on a dry matter basis. Although this was a preliminary study of short duration, results showed that high organic matter removal efficiency can be achieved (91% in systems planted with C. articulatus, compared with 80% in unplanted wetlands). NH4+-N removal was significantly improved in planted systems, averaging 85% vs. 40% for unplanted systems (p<0.05). Total biomass production by C. articulatus was 5.0 (±0.16) kg.m−2. In conclusion, results obtained in this short duration study indicate that C. articulatus could be a promising species for treating domestic wastewater in the Colombian Caribbean region.

ОПТИМІЗАЦІЯ РЕАБІЛІТАЦІЙНИХ ПРОГРАМ У САНАТОРНИХ УМОВАХ ДЛЯ ПАЦІЄНТІВ ІЗ ПЕРВИННИМ ГОНАРТРОЗОМ ЗАЛЕЖНО ВІД КЛІНІКО-ПАТОГЕНЕТИЧНОГО ВАРІАНТУ ПЕРЕБІГУ

Запропоновано новий підхід до розробки індивідуальних програм реабілітації у пацієнтів із первинним гонартрозом (ПГА). Для визначення клінічної ефективності застосування комплексних програм медичної реабілітації у хворих на ПГА розроблено схему індексної оцінки тяжкості патології та ефективності лікування на санаторно-курортному етапі реабілітації. Доведено, що для оптимізації реабілітації у санаторних умовах необхідне індивідуально орієнтоване застосування природних, фізіотерапевтичних, фізичних та альтернативних чинників лікувально-відновлювальних комплексів, що зумовлює зменшення частоти ускладнень, збільшення ефективності реабілітації та подовження тривалості ремісії.

Modeling the Endogenous Sunlight Inactivation Rates of Laboratory Strain and Wastewater E. coli and Enterococci Using Biological Weighting Functions.

Models that predict sunlight inactivation rates of bacteria are valuable tools for predicting the fate of pathogens in recreational waters and designing natural wastewater treatment systems to meet disinfection goals. We developed biological weighting function (BWF)-based numerical models to estimate the endogenous sunlight inactivation rates of E. coli and enterococci. BWF-based models allow the prediction of inactivation rates under a range of environmental conditions that shift the magnitude or spectral distribution of sunlight irradiance (e.g., different times, latitudes, water absorbances, depth). Separate models were developed for laboratory strain bacteria cultured in the laboratory and indigenous organisms concentrated directly from wastewater. Wastewater bacteria were found to be 5-7 times less susceptible to full-spectrum simulated sunlight than the laboratory bacteria, highlighting the importance of conducting experiments with bacteria sourced directly from wastewater. The inactivation rate models fit experimental data well and were successful in predicting the inactivation rates of wastewater E. coli and enterococci measured in clear marine water by researchers from a different laboratory. Additional research is recommended to develop strategies to account for the effects of elevated water pH on predicted inactivation rates.

Analysis of intensity and spatial patterns of public use in natural treatment systems using geotagged photos from social media

Patterns of public use in 273 natural treatment systems worldwide are investigated by means of geotagged data from two popular photo-sharing websites, using spatial analysis and regression techniques. Standardized Major Axis (SMA) regression is found to perform better than other univariate calibration models in terms of goodness of fit with reported visitation frequencies and predictive accuracy, and is used to predict visitation rates in 139 systems that are associated with at least one geotagged photograph. High visitation rates are found in free-water surface (FWS) constructed wetlands and mixed pond-constructed wetlands systems, as well as systems treating surface water or stormwater runoff. Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques are used to map hot and cold spots of public use in two highly visited systems. Binomial logit regression reveals that the probability to be associated with at least one geotagged photograph is a function of system size, system type, and influent water quality. The findings are discussed in terms of their implications for the evaluation of public use in multifunctional ecologically engineered systems as well as the applicability of the proposed methodology to other natural and man-made ecosystems.

NATURAL TREATMENT SYSTEMS FROM THE POINT OF DIDACTICS

All the issues related to environmental ecology, and, among them, Natural Treatment systems, obtain particular importance now, in the 21st century. It is very important to start delivering classes on NTS, the natural chemical processes, and pollution agents, at schools and universities. As a case study, the article discusses the methodology of teaching NTS at University and school levels. The methodology is orientated on the realization of some important didactic principles in the teaching process which is a very effective tool for increasing students’ motivation to learn. For comparative analysis, there will be used the experience of two neighboring countries - Greece and Turkey, to better understand the NTS applications in reality. The article has described the scenario of lectures and laboratory work which is taking place at Ilia State University, within the scopes of the courses: Ecological Chemistry and Eco-tourism. To increase the level of the popularity of NTS, it will be a good experience to organize on-site lectures at the places where NTS is functioning. The outcome of the pedagogical experiment has made it clear, that such a method of teaching of NTS affects positively students motivation and changes their attitude towards the environmental pollution

Wastewater phytoremediation by Salvinia molesta

In natural biological treatment systems, floating macrophytes have been used in maturation pond in recent years to upgrade effluents from stabilization ponds and are to achieve secondary treatment effluent quality from primary sewage effluent. In this study, the performance of phytoremediation by Salvinia molesta macrophytes on treated Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) is investigated. The objectives of the study are to determine the nutrient uptake by S. molesta from treated POME and its effect towards the biomass and biochemical content. The water quality after phytoremediation were monitored. The wastewater phytoremediation by S. molesta was conducted outdoor for 16days in a raceway pond rig. The results showed that S. molesta achieved 95% phosphate removal efficiency from the wastewater, lowering concentration to 0.17mg/l. Nitrate concentration was determined to be at 0.50mg/l at the end of the experiment. Ammonia concentration showed a dynamic fluctuation trend with average value of 2.62mg/l. For water quality assessment, turbidity decreased from 7.56 NTU to 0.94 NTU in just 2days’ time. MLVSS analysis was significantly low by day 2 of experiment. COD removal efficiency was determined at 39%. All six water quality assay met their respective statutory discharge limit. The S. molesta cultivated in the raceway pond rig also showed increment toward the biomass gain, carbohydrate and protein at the end of the experiment. This study indicates that S. molesta plants have the potential to be used in the phytoremediation of treated POME and showed a superior biochemical composition.

Liquefied natural gas ship-to-ship bunkering chain planning: Case studies of Busan, Singapore, and Rotterdam ports

Liquefied natural gas–fuelled ships, beginning with small-sized ships produced in the 2000s to large merchant ships, are expected to show a rapid increase in number. According to Lloyd’s Register, liquefied natural gas shows great promise as fuel for new ships. In line with this trend, it is necessary to establish adequate infrastructure for liquefied natural gas fuelling systems. In the bunkering chain, bunkering shuttles retrieve fuel from the terminals to fuel liquefied natural gas–fuelled ships berthing at the ports. Many researches have dealt with the technical feasibility or the necessity of ship-to-ship bunkering considering the liquefied natural gas bunkering processes, but none has covered them at the same time. This study examines the liquefied natural gas ship-to-ship bunkering chain considering the technically feasible combinations of liquefied natural gas storage and boil off gas treatment system. The suggested method decomposes this large infrastructure problem into two steps, which are pre-processing to estimate port statistics and integer programming model. The model can represent any port as long as the port’s ship statistics and their data are provided. We select three major ports with high liquefied natural gas bunkering potential as case studies to verify the proposed model.

Natural Water Treatment Systems for Safe and Sustainable Water Supply in the Indian Context: Saph Pani

Natural Water Treatment Systems for Safe and Sustainable Water Supply in the Indian Context is based on the work from the Saph Pani project (Hindi word meaning potable water).The book aims to study and improve natural water treatment systems, such as River Bank Filtration (RBF), Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR), and wetlands in India, building local and European expertise in this field. The project aims to enhance water resources and water supply, particularly in water stressed urban and peri urban areas in different parts of the Indian sub-continent. This project is co-funded by the European Union under the Seventh Framework (FP7) scheme of small or medium scale focused research projects for specific cooperation actions (SICA) dedicated to international cooperation partner countries.Natural Water Treatment Systems for Safe and Sustainable Water Supply in the Indian Context provides:an introduction to the concepts of natural water treatment systems (MAR, RBF, wetlands) at national and international levelknowledge of the basics of MAR, RBF and wetlands, methods and hydrogeological characterisationan insight into case studies in India and abroad.This book is a useful resource for teaching at Post Graduate level, for research and professional reference.First published 2016Revised edition with the addition of Chapter 19, 2016Original EditionISBN: 9781780407104 (Paperback)ISBN: 9781780407111 (eBook)This Revised EditionISBN: 9781780408392 (eBook)ISBN: 9781780408385 (Print)DOI: 10.2166/9781780408392

Constructed wetroofs: A novel approach for the treatment and reuse of domestic wastewater

The lack of space in urban areas can be a reason for their lack of green areas and sanitation provisions. Since roofs represent common unused space, they become an option to locate natural treatment systems such as constructed wetlands (CW). A conventional CW is too heavy to be placed on a roof, hence its design must be adjusted without altering its treatment properties. Thus, the concept of a constructed wetroof (CWR) was developed, a 9-cm-depth system composed of sand, organic soil, light expanded clay aggregates (LECA), polylactic acid beads (PLA) and roots. Due to the shallow depth and unsheltered location, the CWR is susceptible to changes in its physical and hydrological properties (such as a hot day causing severe evapotranspiration that dries out the filter media and the plants) that may lead to treatment failures. Therefore, this study investigates the capacity of a CWR to treat (low organic loaded) domestic wastewater (DWW) from an office building in The Netherlands. The results showed that the CWR is a highly aerobic system that treats DWW beyond the levels required by local discharge quality guidelines for organic matter, solids, NH4+-N, total nitrogen and total phosphorus (>79% for all parameters tested). Further investigation is needed to test the CWR performance at higher organic loading rates. The roots, organic soil and sand provided the majority of the treatment; while the LECA and PLA were used mainly to provide volume without increasing significantly the weight. LECA also played a significant role in phosphorus removal. Although the hydrology of the CWR was highly weather dependent, however the treatment efficiency was not affected by it. Moreover, the rain had a minor effect on washing away the nutrients retained in the CWR media. The CWR provided a resilient and efficient DWW treatment that requires, as it is placed on a roof, 0m2 per population equivalent.

Significance of natural treatment systems to enhance reuse of treated effluent: A critical assessment

This paper summarizes the results of the recently completed India-wide survey of 108 wastewater treatment facilities based on natural treatment systems (NTSs) engaged in wastewater treatment and reuse. During assessment of NTSs, a questionnaire survey was administered for collection of vital data on the shortlisted 41 treatment facilities – especially to obtain insights about the technical, economical and social issues influencing the success and failure of the given facility. Further, five case studies based on the most commonly practiced NTSs were selected for in-depth evaluation and the critical issues including effectiveness of technology and the socioeconomic aspects were studied. The treatment performance of these systems was assessed for one year by collecting primary data during January, June and August corresponding to the three seasons viz. winter, summer and monsoon. The effectiveness of the facilities was assessed in terms of percentage removals as well as the mass removal rate for commonly used parameters.As of today, the total load of sewges including sullages serviced by NTSs in India adds up to be around 1838 million liters a day. The most commonly practiced NTS in India has been the waste stabilization ponds (74 facilities) when compared with the phyto-remediation based systems (19 facilities) followed by the polishing ponds (15 facilities). Among the 41 facilities, nearly 75% facilities were compliant and managed to produce treated sewages suitable for irrigation, discharged into wastewater canals or percolated in the riparian zone of the river. All the five systems that were selected for in-depth evaluation were found compliant during assessment. Also, two facilities (Sewage-fed Aquaculture Karnal and Duckweed Pond Ludhiana) were found to be operating on the public private partnership model and generating revenue for operation and maintenance along with ample benefits to the operating agencies. The study also reveals the associated socioeconomic benefits of various practiced NTSs. Finally, strategies for achieving improved performance of NTSs were articulated – especially focusing the potential for recycling and reusing of treated wastewaters.

Development of an innovative decentralized treatment system for the reclamation and reuse of strong wastewater from rural community: Effects of elevated CO2 concentrations

In a previous study, a soil–plant-based natural treatment system was successfully developed for post-treatment of anaerobically digested strong wastewater full of potential nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium). For upgraded performance, an innovative decentralized treatment system was further developed, in which an anaerobic digestion stage and a natural treatment system stage are placed within a greenhouse. This allows the CO2 generated by the processing of wastewater and biogas consumption to be sequestrated within the greenhouse for elevating its concentration level and potentially enhance nutrient removal and recovery from the applied wastewater. To investigate the feasibility of the system, a bench-scale experiment was conducted using CO2 chambers. Valuable Kentucky bluegrass was planted in two soil types (red ball earth and black soil) at three CO2 concentrations (340 ppm, 900 ppm, and 1400 ppm). The results confirmed the positive effects of elevated CO2 concentration on the biomass production and turf quality of Kentucky bluegrass as well as the resulting higher nutrient recovery efficiencies. More importantly, it was demonstrated that the elevated CO2 concentration significantly stimulated the soil nitrifying microorganisms and thus improved the nitrogen removal efficiency (a critical issue in ecological wastewater treatment). A CO2 concentration of 1400 ppm is therefore recommended for use in the system. The mechanism underlying this phenomenon was shown to be an indirect effect, in which the higher CO2 concentration first positively influenced growing plants, which then stimulated the soil nitrifier communities. The effects of soil type (a design parameter) and hydraulic and nutrient loading rates (an operational parameter) on system performance were also examined. The results favored black soil for system establishment. Based on the findings of this study, our proposed system is thought to have the potential to be scaled up and adopted by rural communities worldwide for the reclamation and reuse of strong wastewater, addressing the agricultural non-point source pollution, and achieving the sustainable development.

Impact of Light Screening and Photosensitization by Surface Water Organic Matter onEnterococcus FaecalisInactivation

Abstract Sunlight irradiation is known to contribute to microbial inactivation in natural treatment systems (NTS) and surface waters via both direct and indirect processes. This study investigated the influence of various types of organic matter (OM) on endogenous and exogenous photoinactivation of Enterococcus faecalis. Solar simulator exposure experiments were conducted in surface waters and wastewater and in the presence of natural OM isolates and a singlet oxygen (1O2) sensitizer, methylene blue. Presence of both natural and anthropogenic OM resulted in increases in inactivation rates of 17–67% compared to sensitizer-free experiments. This suggests that, while direct and endogenous photoinactivation is hindered with increasing depth due to light screening by OM, its role as a photosensitizer in the formation of reactive intermediates (predominantly involving 1O2) is greater than its negative impact due to light screening at levels typically found in NTS. Specifically, increases in light absorbance (pa...

Microbial fuel cells implemented in constructed wetlands: Fundamentals, current research and future perspectives

A microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a device that generates electricity from the microbial degradation of organic and inorganic substrates. Constructed wetlands (CWs) are natural wastewater treatment systems that constitute a suitable technology for the sanitation of small communities. The synergy between MFCs and CWs is possible because of the presence of organic matter in CWs due to wastewater characteristics and the naturally generated redox gradient between the upper layer of CWs treatment bed (in aerobic conditions) and the deeper layers (completely anaerobic). As a result of MFC implementation in CWs (MFC-CW), it is possible not only to produce an energy surplus while wastewater is treated but also to improve and monitor the overall treatment process. Moreover, the implementation of MFCs may exert other beneficial effects on CWs, such as a decrease in surface treatment requirements, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and clogging. Finally, MFCs implemented in CWs would be also a suitable bioelectrochemical tool for the assessment of treatment performance without any additional cost involved in the process. Overall, though considered to be at an infancy stage, MFC-CW represents a promising synergy between technologies that may reduce energy costs and enhance treatment performance and monitoring while wastewater is treated. The envisaged main challenges for maximizing the synergy between both technologies are linked to the optimization of both operational and design criteria in CW and MFC cell architecture and materials.

Review of Natural Wastewater Treatment Systems, Second Edition

Vadose Zone JournalVolume 15, Issue 3 vzj2015.12.0164br p. 1-2 Book Review Review of Natural Wastewater Treatment Systems, Second Edition A. Robert Rubin, A. Robert Rubin Sustainable Environmental Solutions and Professor Emeritus [email protected] North Carolina State Univ., 192 Fearrington Post, Pittsboro, NC, 27312Search for more papers by this author A. Robert Rubin, A. Robert Rubin Sustainable Environmental Solutions and Professor Emeritus [email protected] North Carolina State Univ., 192 Fearrington Post, Pittsboro, NC, 27312Search for more papers by this author First published: 04 March 2016 https://doi.org/10.2136/vzj2015.12.0164br All rights reserved. Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL No abstract is available for this article. Volume15, Issue3March 2016Pages 1-2 RelatedInformation

Plant Assimilation Kinetics and Metabolism of 2-Mercaptobenzothiazole Tire Rubber Vulcanizers by Arabidopsis.

2-Mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) is a tire rubber vulcanizer found in potential sources of reclaimed water where it may come in contact with vegetation. In this work, we quantified the plant assimilation kinetics of MBT using Arabidopsis under hydroponic conditions. MBT depletion kinetics in the hydroponic medium with plants were second order (t1/2 = 0.52 to 2.4 h) and significantly greater than any abiotic losses (>18 times faster; p = 0.0056). MBT depletion rate was related to the initial exposure concentration with higher rates at greater concentrations from 1.6 μg/L to 147 μg/L until a potentially inhibitory level (1973 μg/L) lowered the assimilation rate. 9.8% of the initial MBT mass spike was present in the plants after 3 h and decreased through time. In-source LC-MS/MS fragmentation revealed that MBT was converted by Arabidopsis seedlings to multiple conjugated-MBT metabolites of differential polarity that accumulate in both the plant tissue and hydroponic medium; metabolite representation evolved temporally. Multiple novel MBT-derived plant metabolites were detected via LC-QTOF-MS analysis; proposed transformation products include glucose and amino acid conjugated MBT metabolites. Elucidating plant transformation products of trace organic contaminants has broad implications for water reuse because plant assimilation could be employed advantageously in engineered natural treatment systems, and plant metabolites in food crops could present an unintended exposure route to consumers.

Effects of Environmental Factors on the Disinfection Performance of a Wastewater Stabilization Pond Operated in a Temperate Climate

Treatment in a wastewater stabilization pond (WSP) relies on natural purification processes, which can be sensitive to both location and climate. This study investigated the effects of three environmental factors, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO) and temperature, on disinfection efficiency in a WSP system consisting of three facultative cells, and operated in a temperate climate region, in Eastern Ontario, Canada. Indicator organism (Escherichia coli (E. coli)) removal in WSP systems is driven by a combination of different factors. Elevated pH and DO concentrations, which are attributed to the presence of algae, are important factors for effective disinfection. Therefore, the presence of algae in natural wastewater treatment systems can contribute appreciably to disinfection. Consequently, based on algal concentrations, removal efficiencies of pathogenic microorganisms during wastewater treatment over the course of a year can be highly variable, where higher removal efficiencies would be expected in summer and fall seasons.

Microlayer enrichment in natural treatment systems: linking the surface microlayer to urban water quality

Natural treatment systems (NTS), such as constructed wetlands and stormwater ponds, are multibenefit, multidisciplinary approaches to sustaining water resources and reducing contaminant loading to urban streams. Surficial thin films (called surface microlayers) are not well characterized in NTS, but may have important implications for ecosystems, public health, and pollutant fate and transport. We present results from a case study evaluating microlayer contaminant partitioning across 4 NTS in Melbourne, Australia. To our knowledge, this study provides the first direct evidence for microlayer formation and contaminant enrichment (total petroleum hydrocarbons and trihalomethanes) in NTS. Contaminated microlayers were detected in the three most stable NTS, with stability defined relative to wind speed. Fluorescent‐dissolved organic matter profiles differed between microlayer and subsurface water in these systems, suggesting that fluorescence‐based techniques are useful for microlayer detection. Although individual fluorophores were not consistently associated with specific contaminants, fluorescence ratios were useful for identifying likely contaminant source waters, including road‐runoff and irrigation water from nearby green spaces. We evaluate our case study in light of what is known about surface microlayers in analogous systems (e.g., oceans, estuaries, and lakes), in order to identify existing research gaps and future opportunities. WIREs Water 2016, 3:269–281. doi: 10.1002/wat2.1128This article is categorized under: Engineering Water &gt; Sustainable Engineering of Water Engineering Water &gt; Water, Health, and Sanitation Science of Water &gt; Water Quality