Subsurface constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment and reuse in agriculture: five years of experiences in Sicily, Italy

The paper reports the results of an investigation on a H-SSF constructed wetland for tertiary treatment in a small community located in eastern Sicily, Italy. The system is designed to reuse wastewater for the irrigation of olive orchards covering about 150 hectares. From March 2001 to September 200...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water science and technology 2007-01, Vol.56 (3), p.183-191
Main Authors: Cirelli, G.L, Consoli, S, Di Grande, V, Milani, M, Toscano, A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural wastes
Agriculture
Animals
Artificial wetlands
Bacteria - isolation & purification
bacterial contamination
biochemical oxygen demand
chemical oxygen demand
coliform bacteria
Coliforms
Conservation of Natural Resources - methods
constructed wetlands
dissolved oxygen
E coli
Eggs
Escherichia coli
Faecal coliforms
Fecal coliforms
feces
helminths
Helminths - isolation & purification
Italy
Legislation
nitrogen
Olea
Olea europaea
olives
Orchards
Parameters
phosphorus
Physical properties
Removal
Salmonella
solids
Streptococcus
subsurface flow
Waste Disposal, Fluid
Wastewater
wastewater irrigation
Wastewater reuse
Wastewater treatment
Water Purification - legislation & jurisprudence
Water Purification - methods
Water reuse
Water Supply - legislation & jurisprudence
Wetlands
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Summary:The paper reports the results of an investigation on a H-SSF constructed wetland for tertiary treatment in a small community located in eastern Sicily, Italy. The system is designed to reuse wastewater for the irrigation of olive orchards covering about 150 hectares. From March 2001 to September 2005, wastewater samples were collected and the following chemical-physical parameters were determined according to Standard Methods: temperature, pH, EC, DO, TSS (105degrees C), BOD5, COD, TN, TP. The following microbiological parameters were also evaluated: total coliforms, faecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, faecal streptococci, Salmonella, helminth eggs. Mean removal efficiencies ranged from 77 to 92% (TSS), 37 to 72% (BOD5), 51 to 79% (COD), 97 to 99.5% (E. coli). Removal efficiency of Salmonella and helminth eggs was always 100% in all samples; however, only 150% of total samples matched the limit of E. coli (< 50 CFU/100 mL) fixed by Italian legislation for wastewater reuse.
ISSN:0273-1223
1996-9732
DOI:10.2166/wst.2007.498