Use of a Natural Marsh for Wastewater Polishing

A 156-ha natural marsh in northeastern Wisconsin was studied for a 14-month period to determine the interaction of the marsh with poor quality municipal wastewater that is discharged into it. The wastewater had an average biochemical oxygen demand of 83 mg/l, total phosphorus of 9.07 mg/l, and 3.77...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal - Water Pollution Control Federation 1978-01, Vol.50 (2), p.290-307
Main Authors: Fetter, C. W., Sloey, William E., Spangler, Frederick L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ammonia
Creeks
Marshes
Nitrates
Phosphates
Phosphorus
Surface runoff
Wastewater
Wastewater treatment
Water quality
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Summary:A 156-ha natural marsh in northeastern Wisconsin was studied for a 14-month period to determine the interaction of the marsh with poor quality municipal wastewater that is discharged into it. The wastewater had an average biochemical oxygen demand of 83 mg/l, total phosphorus of 9.07 mg/l, and 3.77 log coliforms/100 ml. The effluent flows into a stream that disperses into the cattail (Typha latifolia and T. augustifolia) marsh. There is no open channel for 1400 m until the marsh narrows and the channel reappears. Water quality in the creek was adversely affected by the wastewater discharge, which increased the biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, phosphorus, and coliforms. After passage through the marsh, there was a reduction of 80.1 percent in the biochemical oxygen demand, 43.7 percent in chemical oxygen demand, 6.4 percent in orthopsosphate, 13.4 percent in total phosphorus, 51.3 percent in nitrate, and 86.2 percent in coliform bacteria. There was an estimated 32 percent mass reduction of phosphorus. Passage of wastewater through marshes can improve overall water quality.
ISSN:0043-1303