Investigation of protozoa as indicators of wastewater treatment efficiency in constructed wetlands

Wetlands represent an efficient wastewater treatment technique, with several benefits over the conventional activated sludge system. Microfaunal community is of outmost importance in treatment processes as the microorganisms are able to achieve substantial decontamination through biodegradation. The...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Desalination 2010-01, Vol.250 (1), p.378-382
Main Authors: Papadimitriou, C.A., Papatheodoulou, A., Takavakoglou, V., Zdragas, A., Samaras, P., Sakellaropoulos, G.P., Lazaridou, M., Zalidis, G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bioindicators
Constructed wetlands
Construction
Correlation
Decontamination
Diversity
Effluent quality
Indicators
Microorganisms
Protozoa
Wastewater treatment
Wastewater treatment efficiency
Wetlands
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Summary:Wetlands represent an efficient wastewater treatment technique, with several benefits over the conventional activated sludge system. Microfaunal community is of outmost importance in treatment processes as the microorganisms are able to achieve substantial decontamination through biodegradation. The objectives of this work were the monitoring of protozoan's abundance and diversity in the matrix of six bench scale Free Water Surface constructed wetlands and the investigation of their applicability as indicator organisms for treatment efficiency in these systems. A correlation between the phosphorous and Total Coliforms removal rates was observed in the presence of increased protozoan taxa, while removal of organic loading and inorganic nitrogen was increased in the case of increased protozoan diversity in the soil/water interface. Results revealed that protozoa may be used as bioindicators of treatment efficiency in constructed wetlands; in addition their presence was related to the effluent quality.
ISSN:0011-9164
1873-4464
DOI:10.1016/j.desal.2009.09.060