Seasonal effectiveness of a constructed wetland for processing milkhouse wastewater

Constructed wetlands are gaining increased attention for treatment of nonpoint source pollution. Although constructed wetlands have been used for wastewater treatment in warm climates, their performance in cold climates has been questioned. A surface-flow wetland, designed to treat 2.65 m super(3) d...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Wetlands (Wilmington, N.C.) N.C.), 1997-09, Vol.17 (3), p.375-382
Main Authors: Majer Newman, J, Clausen, J C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ammonia
Artificial wetlands
Biochemical oxygen demand
Cold weather
Coliforms
Design standards
Growing season
Load distribution
Loading rate
Nitrogen
Nonpoint source pollution
Nutrients
Overloading
Phosphorus
Pollution sources
Retention
Senescence
Solid suspensions
Total suspended solids
Wastewater treatment
Wetlands
Winter
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Summary:Constructed wetlands are gaining increased attention for treatment of nonpoint source pollution. Although constructed wetlands have been used for wastewater treatment in warm climates, their performance in cold climates has been questioned. A surface-flow wetland, designed to treat 2.65 m super(3) d super(-1) of milkhouse wastewater, was constructed on the University of Connecticut's Storrs campus in 1994. The purpose of the project was to determine the efficiency of the system to reduce nutrients, five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD sub(5)), bacteria, and total suspended solids and to reduce fecal coliform bacteria. During the first ten months of operation, outflow volume was 90% of inflow. Although the wetland was designed to process a BOD sub(5) loading rate of 1500 mg/L, the average actual loading rate was 3000 mg/L. The overall percent mass retention of total suspended solids was 45% and for nutrients was 28%, 27%, 47%, and 6%, for total phosphorus, total Kjeldahl-N, nitrate-N, and ammonia-N, respectively. The percent reduction of fecal coliform and BOD sub(5) was 31% and 28% respectively. Mass retention was significantly greater (p < 0.05) during the growing season than during plant senescence for total suspended solids, total phosphorus, total Kjeldahl, ammonia, and nitrate/nitrite nitrogen. Effluent ammonia nitrogen concentrations often exceeded influent values during the winter. Preliminary indications are that the treatment of the wastewater does not meet design standards, especially in the winter, probably due to overloading of BOD sub(5).
ISSN:0277-5212
1943-6246
DOI:10.1007/BF03161427