Thermal properties of treatment wetlands operated under freezing conditions

The use of treatment wetlands (TWs) presents particular challenges in regions with sub-zero winter temperatures, due to reduced biological activity and risk of pipe breakage or clogging due to freezing. We studied the vertical temperature distribution in four pilot-scale TWs exposed to winter temper...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water science and technology 2023-10, Vol.88 (8), p.2054-2067
Main Authors: Grebenshchykova, Zhanna, quet, Nicolas, Brisson, Jacques, Lachapelle-T, Xavier, Comeau, Yves, Chazarenc, Florent
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aeration
Air temperature
Biological activity
Climate change
cold climate
Cold season
Data collection
Distribution
Energy
Environmental Sciences
Freezing
Heat
Hydraulic loading
Influent water
Influents
Insulating materials
Insulation
Life Sciences
Percolation
Pollutants
Radiation
Saturated flow
Sensors
Temperature
Temperature distribution
thermal distribution
Thermal properties
Thermodynamic properties
treatment wetland
Vertical distribution
vertical flow
Water temperature
Wetlands
Winter
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Summary:The use of treatment wetlands (TWs) presents particular challenges in regions with sub-zero winter temperatures, due to reduced biological activity and risk of pipe breakage or clogging due to freezing. We studied the vertical temperature distribution in four pilot-scale TWs exposed to winter temperatures in order to determine the impact of operational system parameters and the role of insulation on heat conservation inside the filtering bed. The overall temperature pattern was similar in all wetlands, with a trend of increasing temperature from the surface toward the bottom during the cold season. No freezing was detected in the wetlands despite average daily temperatures as low as −20 °C. Influent water temperature and hydraulic loading had a stronger influence on TW temperatures in winter than air temperature. The vertical distribution of temperatures in TWs is more sensitive to hydraulic loading variation in the percolating operating condition than in the saturated flow with forced aeration configuration. Our results suggest that TW systems can remain operational under cold winter conditions provided the surface is properly insulated by vegetation, mulch and/or snow.
ISSN:0273-1223
1996-9732
DOI:10.2166/wst.2023.320