Removal efficiency of three cold-climate constructed wetlands treating domestic wastewater: Effects of temperature, seasons, loading rates and input concentrations

Abstract

Research Article| August 01 1999 Removal Efficiency of Three Cold-Climate Constructed Wetlands Treating Domestic Wastewater: Effects of Temperature, Seasons, Loading Rates and Input Concentrations Trond Mæhlum; Trond Mæhlum Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Per Stålnacke Per Stålnacke Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Water Sci Technol (1999) 40 (3): 273–281. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.1999.0172 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Cite Icon Cite Permissions Search Site Search nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All ContentAll JournalsThis Journal Search Advanced Search Citation Trond Mæhlum, Per Stålnacke; Removal Efficiency of Three Cold-Climate Constructed Wetlands Treating Domestic Wastewater: Effects of Temperature, Seasons, Loading Rates and Input Concentrations. Water Sci Technol 1 August 1999; 40 (3): 273–281. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.1999.0172 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex This paper outlines the influence of temperature, flow rate and input concentrations on the treatment efficiency of organic matter and nutrients in constructed wetlands (CWs). Three integrated 10 PE systems with horizontal subsurface flow (HSF) treating domestic wastewater are described. Particular attention is devoted to: (1) aerobic pre-treatment in vertical-flow filters, (2) filter media with high phosphorus (P) sorption capacity, and (3) the treatment efficiency during winters. Aerobic pre-treatment followed by CW units including P sorption media removed most organic matter (BOD> 75%), P (> 90%) and total and ammonia N (40-80%). P retention was relatively stable in wetland filters, both with lightweight aggregates and ferruginous sand during 3-6 years of monitoring. Iron-rich sand from Bsh and Bs horizons of ferro-humic podzols was efficient for P sorption, but removal efficiencies of COD, TOC and SS were negative. The differences in efficiency between cold and warm periods were less than 10 percentage points for all parameters. It is anticipated that temperature effects are partially compensated by the large hydraulic retention time. The findings suggest that HSF systems do not require vegetation. Constructed wetlands, cold-climate, Filtralite, lightweight aggregates, multistage system, nitrogen, phosphorus, subsurface flow, wastewater This content is only available as a PDF. © IWA Publishing 1999 You do not currently have access to this content.