Designing constructed wetlands for reclamation of pretreated wastewater and stormwater

Wastewater reclamation is getting greater attention as an alternative to conventional approaches to wastewater treatment and water supply due to increasing water stress coupled with more stringent water quality limitation for discharge of treated wastewater. Among the few technologies adopted in the field for wastewater reclamation, constructed wetlands have been used to reclaim both primary and secondary treated wastewater in regions with arid and humid climates. This paper summarizes the widely adopted guidelines that need to be considered when designing constructed wetlands for wastewater reclamation, discusses the capacity of wetland treatment systems for water reuse while assessing the status of full-scale constructed wetlands designed for wastewater reclamation, and develops contaminant loading charts as a design tool based on the performance of existing full-scale constructed wetlands deployed for wastewater reclamation. It is evident that constructed wetland systems provide a viable means to treat wastewater to the levels required for low-quality reuses such as restricted irrigation and impoundment. It is challenging for constructed wetlands to consistently meet microbiological guidelines for high-quality reuses such as unrestricted agricultural and urban reuses. Wastewater reclaimed through constructed wetlands is used mainly for agricultural and landscape irrigation, groundwater recharge, indirect potable reuse, and environmental reuse. Surface area and hydraulic loading rate of constructed wetlands to be deployed for wastewater reclamation can be estimated with contaminant loading charts derived from monitoring data of existing full-scale operations.     

Energy requirements for nitrification and biological nitrogen removal in engineered wetlands

Nitrogen in wastewater degrades aquifer and surface water quality. To protect water quality in the United States, nitrogen discharge standards are strict: typically 1.0 mg/L NH₄-N for discharge to surface water and 10 mg/L total nitrogen (TN) for discharge to soil. Passive constructed wetland treatment systems cannot meet the nitrification standards discussed in this paper, using loading rates commonly considered to be cost-effective based on economic conditions in North America. Although partial nitrification can be achieved with some vertically or intermittently loaded, subsurface flow (SSF) wetlands, complete nitrification cannot be achieved in these passive wetland treatment systems. Engineered wetlands (EWs) use mechanical power inputs via pumping of air or water to nitrify wastewater, and have evolved in large part to nitrify wastewater. The design energy requirements for these power inputs have yet to be described in the wetland treatment literature. Our paper investigates the energy and area requirements of three wetland technologies: aerated subsurface flow, tidal flow, and pulse-fed wetland treatment, compared to a mechanical activated-sludge treatment system.     

Adaptation of wastewater surface flow wetland formulae for application in constructed stormwater wetlands

Over the past 30 years, the use of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment has been a topic of significant research culminating in a good data base from which simplistic equations have been derived to aid in the design of these facilities to meet long term water quality treatment performance criteria. Over the past decade, the use of treatment wetlands has extended to stormwater and combined sewer overflow (CSO) management applications. Designing constructed wetlands for stormwater and CSO applications have unique challenges stemming from the highly stochastic nature of the hydraulic and pollutant loading on a stormwater wetland compared with wastewater treatment systems. This paper explores the possibility of adapting the simplistic models for wastewater wetlands for interim use in developing design guidelines for stormwater wetland systems. A procedure that takes into account the unsteady intermittent nature of stormwater inflows to these wetlands has been incorporated into one of these simplistic models and a case study presented to demonstrate the application of the procedure.     

Biodiversity of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment

Constructed wetlands are often built for wastewater treatment to mitigate the adverse effects of organic pollution in streams and rivers caused by inputs of municipal wastewater. However, there has been little analysis of biodiversity and related factors influencing the ecosystem functioning of constructed wetlands. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the biodiversity of two free-water-surface integrated constructed wetlands in subtropical Taiwan by analyzing the water quality, habitat characteristics, and biotic communities of algae, macrophytes, birds, fish, and aquatic macroinvertebrates in the treatment cells. Our results indicated that the two integrated constructed wetlands (Hsin-Hai II and Daniaopi Constructed Wetlands) achieved good performance in reducing the concentrations of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP), and loadings of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) from municipal sewage. In total, 58 bird species, 7 fish species, and 34 aquatic macroinvertebrate taxa were recorded in the two wetlands. The results of stepwise multiple regressions showed that the richness, abundance, and diversity of birds increased with wetland area. Fish richness and abundance respectively increased with wetland area and dissolved oxygen, while the diversity decreased with increases in TP concentrations. The richness and density of aquatic macroinvertebrates increased with the cover of aquatic macrophytes, while the diversity increased with wetland area. Ordination analyses indicated that variations in the community structures of birds, fishes, and aquatic macroinvertebrates were respectively best explained by water temperature, wetland area, and species richness of fish. Our results suggest that wetland area, cover of aquatic macrophytes, and water quality were the most important factors governing the diversity in the constructed wetlands, and that the factors influencing community structures varied among different taxonomic groups. In addition to improving water quality, this study implied that the biodiversity of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment can be enhanced through proper design and management.     

人工湿地处理造纸废水后细菌群落结构变化

人工湿地通过模拟自然湿地的生态系统,能够实现污染物的去除,是一种高效经济的污水处理手段,但是对人工湿地处理后污水中细菌群落的研究较少。采集了造纸厂排污口和人工湿地出水口的水样,检测了溶解氧、pH值和盐度等水质指标,对主要污染物的含量进行了测定和分析,并利用DGGE技术对细菌群落的变化进行了研究。结果表明:(1)造纸污水经人工湿地处理后水质有明显提高;(2)人工湿地处理后细菌群落结构发生变化,优势菌由γ变形菌和衣原体变为α变形菌,而且微生物多样性指数Shannon-Wiener's降低;(3)人工湿地处理前污水中存在着大量致病微生物和降解微生物,处理后以环境友好的固氮菌和少量致病菌为主。研究结果揭示了人工湿地不仅可以去除造纸废水中的污染物,改善水质而且可以大大减少向环境中排放的致病微生物,防止由致病微生物引起的生态灾难的发生,为将来人工湿地应用于工业污水处理和微生物生态安全评估提供有效可靠的依据。     

人工湿地与环境卫生安全

人工湿地是国内外应用较为广泛的一种污水处理技术。近年来,人工湿地的环境卫生安全问题越来越受到人们的关注。人工湿地中病原微生物的去除或失活受到诸多因素的影响,其过程和机制与传统的二级污水处理工艺有较大区别,选择适宜的指示微生物和病原微生物并研究其行为是进行人工湿地环境卫生安全评价的关键。本文论述了病原微生物在人工湿地中的归宿以及人工湿地可能对环境卫生安全造成的影响,综述了国内外的研究现状,指出了该方面研究的必要性和迫切性。     

人工湿地的氮去除机理

湖泊等水环境的富营养化给人类带来诸多损害,如环境、生态和经济等方面的损害。富营养化的原因和控制途径引起了包括中国在内的很多国家的关注。我国针对水环境的富营养化问题开展了大量的工作。氮是引发水环境富营养化的主要营养物之一。外源氮负荷（分点源和非点源两部分）是水环境污染负荷的重要组成部分。传统污水处理技术应用于收集系统欠缺的非点源污染的治理时成本过高。人工湿地是有效削减水环境中外源氮负荷的重要技术手段,在处理非点源污染源带来的氮负荷时更是如此。人工湿地具有氮去除效果好、耐冲击负荷能力强、投资低和生态环境友好等优点。因此人工湿地非常适合于水环境富营养化的防治。阐明人工湿地中氮的去除机理对水环境的富营养化等具有重要的意义。防渗人工湿地的氮去除机理主要包括挥发、氨化、硝化／反硝化、植物摄取和基质吸附。未防渗的人工湿地中,周围水体与人工湿地的氮交换影响着人工湿地中氮的去除。一般情况下,人工湿地中硝化／反硝化是最主要的氮去除机理。pH值小于7．5时,氨挥发可忽略。pH值在9．3以上时,氨挥发很显著。处理生活污水的人工湿地中氮的去除主要是依靠微生物的硝化／反硝化作用。在进水负荷低、气候适宜、植物物种适宜和收割频率与时机适宜的条件下,植物收割可能成为主要的去氮途径。人工合理导向的湿地的氮去除效果通常优于天然湿地。合理的设计（填料的搭配、植物物种的配置以及布水和集水的优化）对人工湿地系统中氮去除的改善有重要影响。合理的运行,如有效的水位控制,正确的植物培育、合理的植物收割等,能有效地改善湿地中的氮去除。     

The flower and the butterfly constructed wetland system at Koh Phi Phi—System design and lessons learned during implementation and operation

In 2007, a constructed wetland system was implemented on the tourist island of Koh Phi Phi in Southern Thailand. This paper presents the process of planning, designing and implementing the system and discusses the performance and operational issues 3 years after implementation. The system is an international lighthouse project showing the potential for aesthetical integration of constructed wetland systems in the built environment. The system comprises a wastewater collection system for the main business and hotel area of the island, a pumping station and a pressure pipe system to the treatment facility, a multi-stage constructed wetland system, and a system for reuse of treated wastewater. The treatment chains consist of vertical-flow, horizontal subsurface flow and free water surface flow units. Because the treatment system is located at the centre of the island, surrounded by resorts, restaurants and shops, the systems are designed with terrains as scenic landscaping. The wastewater is treated to meet the Thai effluent standards for total suspended solids and nitrogen, but because of inadequate pre-treatment and removal of oil and grease prior to the system, the standards for oil and grease and BOD are not met. A number of challenges during construction and operation have caused problems with clogging of the vertical flow constructed wetlands and given rise to odour problems. Safeguards were prepared, but not effectively activated, mainly because no key-person or key-authority took responsibility for managing the system.     

Recycling of aquaculture wastewater using charcoal based constructed wetlands

Abstract

The competitive demand for water makes it a scarce resource for agricultural use. This necessitates wastewater reuse for irrigation and any other agricultural purpose, especially in developing countries where treatment of wastewaters is not a priority. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of a charcoal-based constructed wetland (CBCW) in treating aquaculture wastewater. Aquaculture wastewater from a Research Fishpond Farm was treated in a CBCW planted with Sacciolepsis africana and Commelina cyannae for 5?days retention time. Raw wastewater and the treated wastewater from the constructed wetland (CW) was sampled and the physicochemical parameters determined. The performance of the CW in treating aquaculture wastewater was conducted. The result showed that the CBCW was capable of removing 50% TSS, 88% COD, 93% BOD_5, and 100% nitrate nitrogen. The pH and DO of the wastewater before treatment and after treatment ranged from 6.68 to 6.91 and 4.13 to 6.30?mg/l, respectively. Thus, CWs have great potential for the treatment of aquaculture wastewater and prevention of environmental degradation through wastewater treatment, thereby solving the problem of water scarcity for agriculture for optimum food production.     

Managing vegetation in surface-flow wastewater-treatment wetlands for optimal treatment performance

Constructed wetlands that mimic natural marshes have been used as low-cost alternatives to conventional secondary or tertiary wastewater treatment in the U.S. for at least 30 years. However, the general level of understanding of internal treatment processes and their relation to vegetation and habitat quality has not grown in proportion to the popularity of these systems. We have studied internal processes in surface-flow constructed wastewater-treatment wetlands throughout the southwestern U.S. since 1990. At any given time, the water quality, hydraulics, water temperature, soil chemistry, available oxygen, microbial communities, macroinvertebrates, and vegetation each greatly affect the treatment capabilities of the wetland. Inside the wetland, each of these components plays a functional role and the treatment outcome depends upon how the various components interact. Vegetation plays a uniquely important role in water treatment due to the large number of functions it supports, particularly with regard to nitrogen transformations. However, it has been our experience that vegetation management is critical for achieving and sustaining optimal treatment function. Effective water treatment function and good wildlife quality within a surface-flow constructed wetland depend upon the health and sustainability of the vegetation. We suggest that an effective tool to manage and sustain healthy vegetation is the use of hummocks, which are shallow emergent plant beds within the wetland, positioned perpendicular to the water flow path and surrounded by water sufficiently deep to limit further emergent vegetation expansion. In this paper, we describe the use of a hummock configuration, in conjunction with seasonal water level fluctuations, to manage the vegetation and maintain the treatment function of wastewater-treatment wetlands on a sustainable basis.     

Synergism of natural and constructed wetlands in Beijing,China

An integrated wetland system (IWS) including constructed wetlands (CWs) and modified natural wetlands (NWs) for wastewater treatment to replenish water to wetlands located at the Beijing Wetland School (BWS) in Beijing, China, is presented in this paper. The synergistic effects of CWs and NWs on treated water quality are investigated. The IWS is proved to be an effective wastewater treatment technique and a better alternative to alleviate the water shortage for conservation of wetlands based on the monitoring data obtained from October 2007 to 2008. The results show that CWs and NWs play different roles in removing contaminants from wastewater. The COD removal efficiency in CWs is higher than that in modified NWs, whereas the modified NWs can compensate for the deficiency of CWs where a stable and sufficient rhizosphere is not fully formed in the start-up period. All removal rates of COD, TN, and TP in CWs and modified NWs vary from 50 to 70%, while the total removal rate of COD, TN, and TP in IWS is about 85–90%. The operational results show that the maximum area loading of organic pollutants in modified NWs (65 kg/ha d) is slightly higher than the empirical one (60 kg/ha d) recommended by USEPA (2000) for free water surface wetlands.     

人工湿地脱除富营养化水体氮磷的研究进展

水体中氮磷营养物质不断积累,部分藻类及水生生物的过度繁殖,导致了水体的富营养化。水体富营养化防治的关键是减小水中氮、磷的含量。人工湿地是一项新型的废水处理技术,近年来在脱除富营养化水体氮磷中获得广泛研究和应用。本文在简述脱氮除磷机理的基础上,较系统地阐述了影响人工湿地脱除氮磷的因素及工艺的在改善水体富营养化的研究进展,以便在构建人工湿地中对各项因素综合考虑及兼顾利用,提高人工湿地修复富营养化水体的综合效能。     

Comparison of the treatment performances of blast furnace slag-based and gravel-based vertical flow wetlands operated identically for domestic wastewater treatment in Turkey

In 2001, to foster the practical development of constructed wetlands (CWs) used for domestic wastewater treatment in Turkey, vertical subsurface flow constructed wetlands (30 m² of each) were implemented on the campus of the METU, Ankara, Turkey. The main objective of the research was to quantify the effect of different filter media on the treatment performance of vertical flow wetlands in the prevailing climate of Ankara. Thus, a gravel-filled wetland and a blast furnace granulated iron slag-filled wetland were operated identically with primarily treated domestic wastewater (3 m³ d⁻¹) at a hydraulic loading rate of 0.100 m d⁻¹, intermittently. Both of the wetland cells were planted with Phragmites australis. According to the first year results, average removal efficiencies for the slag and gravel wetland cells were as follows: total suspended solids (TSS) (63% and 59%), chemical oxygen demand (COD) (47% and 44%), NH₄⁺–N (88% and 53%), total nitrogen (TN) (44% and 39%), PO₄³⁻-P (44% and 1%) and total phosphorus (TP) (45% and 4%). The treatment performances of the slag-filled wetland were better than that of the gravel-filled wetland in terms of removal of phosphorus and production of nitrate. Since this study was a pioneer for implementation of subsurface constructed wetlands in Turkey using local sources, it has proved that this eco-technology could also be used effectively for water quality enhancement in Turkey.     

人工湿地污水处理系统研究及性能改进分析

人工湿地污水处理系统是有效的污水处理与水资源再用相结合的方法,与传统的污水处理法相比具有基建、运行费用低,操作与维护简单等优点。该系统已被广泛应用于生活污水的处理,并通过工艺创新有向工业污水、农业废水等特殊污水处理方向发展的趋势。本文总结了人工湿地系统的研究现状,预测其研究与应用发展的趋势,探讨不同类型的污水在人工湿地系统中的净化过程,分析影响人工湿地污水处理性能的因素及技术性能改进的一些措施,并探讨人工湿地污水处理系统的应用前景。     

The distribution of iron oxidation states in a constructed wetland as an indicator of its redox properties

Wastewater-treatment processes taking place inside constructed wetlands are closely connected with chemical properties of these systems. The aeration of a wetland via the roots of the vegetation (and a subsequent formation of redox-potential gradients) strongly influences the wastewater treatment efficiency, and thus it represents one of the most important characteristics of the wetland. The concentration ratios of individual iron oxidation states (Fe(II) and Fe(III)) were determined as the indicator of the redox properties of the constructed wetland reed bed during this study. Interstitial water from the wetland was sampled eleven times throughout the year 2005. The spectrophotometric method using 1,10-phenanthroline was properly optimized (limits of detection and quantification, sensitivity, linear dynamic range, repeatability, and accuracy values were assessed) and applied for iron determination. Most of iron, ca. 98%, is reduced to the Fe(II) form in raw wastewater and water from the inflow zone of the constructed wetland, however, at the outflow and in the vegetation bed both iron oxidation states are usually detected. The presence of Fe(III) in the reed bed (ca. 10-30% for some samples) demonstrates the aeration of the wetland by the vegetation (Phragmites australis) resulting in a re-oxidation of Fe(II).     

人工湿地及其在工业废水处理中的应用

论述了人工湿地污水处理技术的机理和优点,人工湿地利用基质、植物和微生物这个复合生态系统的物理、化学和生物的三重协调作用,通过过滤,吸附、共沉淀、离子交换,植物吸收和微生物分解来实现对废水的高效净化,同时通过营养物质和水分的生物地球化学循环,促进绿色植物生长并使其增产,实现废水的资源化与无害化;人工湿地污水处理系统具有出水水质稳定,对营养物质去除能力强,基建和运行费用低,技术含量低,维护管理方便,耐冲击负荷强,适于处理间歇排放的污水和具有美学价值等优点,该技术不仅能够在发展中国家和发达国家的城市生活污水处理中广泛应用,其在工业废水处理中的应用也正在不断受到重视,根据人工湿地在工业废水处理中的研究和应用现状,指出了人工湿地处理特殊工业废水的前景及今后的研究方向。     

水平潜流人工湿地模型

人工湿地作为一种新型的处理技术,在水污染控制与水环境修复中具有重要的作用和广阔的应用前景.人工湿地处理工程数量的增多和日趋严格的水质标准促进了其设计手段的进步.本文从水动力学、污染物降解动力学和参数的不确定性3方面入手,系统回顾、评价了水平潜流人工湿地的设计模型,包括负荷法、衰减方程、一级k-C*模型及其若干改进型模型和动态机理模型.在比较上述模型的建立依据和方法的基础上,分析水平潜流人工湿地模型发展的内在关系,指出在工程设计中应用各类模型时需要考虑的主要事项,并对该领域的发展方向进行了展望.     

A study of nutrient removal efficiency of Phragmites mauritianus in experimental reactors in Uganda

Artificial wetlands have not yet been used in Ugandafor wastewater purification. The feasibility of usingartificial wetlands to improve presettled wastewaterquality was tested using 40 l experimental buckets(mesocosms) at Kirinya sewage works, Jinja, Uganda.These mesocosms were operated in an intermittent,vertical flow mode. They were synoptic experiments toa pilot constructed wetland project in which theutility of Phragmites mauritianus to treatpresettled wastewater for P and N was examined. Results showed that the laterite-gravel rootedPhragmites reactors improved the wastewater qualitysignificantly, possibly to advanced secondary ortertiary water quality levels. These reactors achievedreduction efficiency of over 90% for P and over 60%for N after a 5-day water retention time. The massbalances of N and P over the reactors, indicated ahigher uptake rate for P by the plant than for N.Laterite-gravel rooted Phragmites mesocosms weremore efficient than the floating Phragmitesmesocosms for the wastewater treatment. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Performance of a constructed wetland in treating brackish wastewater from commercial recirculating and super-intensive shrimp growout systems

A recirculating aquaculture system was developed for treating Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) production wastewater using an integrated vertical-flow (IVF) and five connected integrated horizontal flow (IHF) constructed wetlands as water treatment filters for mesohaline conditions (8.25‰-8.26‰ salinity). The constructed wetlands demonstrated the ability to reduce total nitrogen, total ammonia nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, total phosphorous, chemical oxygen demand, and total suspended solids to levels significantly lower than those in effluents from culture tanks. Various water quality parameters in the culture tanks were deemed suitable for shrimp culture. The actual ratio of wetland area (A(w)) to culture tank area (A(t)) was 1.1439, and the estimated optimal ratio A(w)/A(t) was approximately 1. The IVF-IHF wetlands showed flexibility and reliability in consistently removing the main pollutants from commercial recirculating and super-intensive shrimp growout systems throughout the culture period.     

Microbial Population and Activity in Wetland Microcosms Constructed for Improving Treated Municipal Wastewater

The idea of using constructed wetlands for the treatment and improving of wastewater emerged in the second half of the last century. Despite relatively wide use of this environmentally friendly technology, relatively little is known about the microbial populations involved in biotransformation and removal of contaminants in this system. The aim of the current study was to investigate the assembly and function of microbial populations in vertical-flow constructed wetland microcosms designed to improve the quality of wastewater after activated sludge treatment. Also, the performance of 3-year-old wetland ponds was investigated. Even though the quality of the influent water was relatively high, improvement in water parameters such as coliform level, ammonia concentration, BOD, and TSS was observed. The performance of the wetland ponds was comparable to that of the microcosms. The microbial community composition of the biofilm formed on the surface of gravel particles in vegetated and plant-free microcosms was studied by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and sequencing of 16S rRNA gene fragments. Highly complex bacterial diversity was observed in the biofilm. Cluster analysis of DGGE patterns demonstrated that depth within the wetland microcosm has a stronger effect on microbial community composition of the biofilm formed on wetland matrix than vegetation. Measurements of fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis activity and nitrification potential revealed that hydrolytic activity was affected by both microcosm depth and vegetation presence, whereas nitrification potential was mostly influenced by depth. Resolving the bacterial assemblage of wetland biofilm, which often is considered a black box, will help to understand the interactions involved in the development of diverse and mature biofilm and its function.