Effect of influent load fluctuation on the efficiency of vertical constructed wetlands treating dairy farm wastewater

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Environmental Science, Graphic Era (Deemed to be) University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

2 Department of Microbiology, Graphic Era (Deemed to be) University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

3 Department of Environmental Science, University of Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India

Abstract

Three vertical sub-surface flow (VSSF) constructed wetland (CW) systems (CW-1, CW-2 and CW-3) filled with different filter media, each 4 m2 in area, planted with Arundo donax was operated for 4 years for treating dairy farm wastewater. The vertical CW systems received high fluctuations in influent concentration and loads i.e. BOD (26 to 619 mg L-1 and 1.5 to 34 g m-2 d-1), TSS (165 to 643 mg L-1 and 9.1 to 24 g m-2 d-1), TP (16 to 49.9 mg L-1 and 1.2 to 2.7 g m-2 d-1) and NH4-N (24.5 to 76.2 mg L-1 and 1.3 to 4.2 g m-2 d-1) during the assessment period. Average annual removal rates showed fluctuations in removal of BOD (70.5 to 92.9%), TSS (82.5 to 97.5%), TP (51.1 to 91.9%) and NH4-N (34.6 to 69%). This shows that the removal of BOD is very sensitive to inlet load fluctuations in CWs. High inlet loads may confine good nitrification that affects ammonium-nitrogen removal while TP removal rate reduced when inlet TP loads reduced. The average concentration of the pollutants (BOD, TSS, TP and NH4-N) in the treated effluent showed noticeable decrease: 43.4 to 16.1 mg L-1 for BOD; 43.3 to 11.7 mg L-1 for TSS; 17.9 to 3.1 mg L-1 for TP and 33.2 to 22.7 mg L-1 for NH4-N. Thus from the outcomes of the current study, it can be concluded that the VSSF CW system may provide promising outcomes despite there is fluctuations in the influent loads.

Graphical Abstract

Effect of influent load fluctuation on the efficiency of vertical constructed wetlands treating dairy farm wastewater

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

[1] McGee, M. A. (1980). Effluent ponds construction. Farm production and practice-Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Economics Division.
[2] Moir, S. E., Svoboda, I., Sym, G., Clark, J., McGechan, M. B., Castle, K. (2005). An experimental plant for testing methods of treating dilute farm effluents and dirty water. Biosystems Engineering, 90(3), 349-355.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2004.11.003
[3] Munavalli, G. R., Saler, P. S. (2009). Treatment of dairy wastewater by water hyacinth. Water Science and Technology, 59(4), 713-722. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2009.008
[4] Nyquist, J., Greger, M. (2009). A field study of constructed wetlands for preventing and treating acid mine drainage. Ecological Engineering, 35(5), 630-642.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2008.10.018
[5] Kadlec, R. H., Zmarthie, L. A. (2010). Wetland treatment of leachate from a closed landfill. Ecological Engineering, 36(7), 946-957. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2010.04.013
[6] Korkusuz, E. A., Beklioğlu, M., Demirer, G. N. (2005). Comparison of the treatment performances of blast furnace slag-based and gravel-based vertical flow wetlands operated identically for domestic wastewater treatment in Turkey. Ecological Engineering, 24(3), 185-198.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2004.10.002
[7] Serrano, L., De la Varga, D., Ruiz, I., Soto, M. (2011). Winery wastewater treatment in a hybrid constructed wetland. Ecological Engineering, 37(5), 744-753. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2010.06.038
[8] Scholz, M., 2011. Wetland systems: storm water management control. Springer Science and Business Media.London.
[9] Stefanakis, A., Akratos, C. S., Tsihrintzis, V. A. (2014). Vertical flow constructed wetlands: eco-engineering systems for wastewater and sludge treatment. Newnes.
[10] Vymazal, J. (2013). Emergent plants used in free water surface constructed wetlands: a review. Ecological Engineering, 61, 582-592. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2013.06.023
[11] Vymazal, J. (2014). Constructed wetlands for treatment of industrial wastewaters: a review. Ecological Engineering, 73, 724-751.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.09.034
[12] Vymazal, J. (2011). Long-term performance of constructed wetlands with horizontal sub-surface flow: Ten case studies from the Czech Republic. Ecological Engineering, 37(1), 54-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2009.11.028
[13] Wu, H., Zhang, J., Ngo, H. H., Guo, W., Hu, Z., Liang, S., Liu, H. (2015). A review on the sustainability of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment: design and operation. Bioresource Technology, 175, 594-601.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2014.10.068
[14] Kurzbaum, E., Kirzhner, F., Armon, R. (2012). Improvement of water quality using constructed wetland systems. Reviews on Environmental Health, 27(1), 59-64.
https://doi.org/10.1515/reveh-2012-0005
[15] Murphy, C., Rajabzadeh, A. R., Weber, K. P., Nivala, J., Wallace, S. D., Cooper, D. J. (2016). Nitrification cessation and recovery in an aerated saturated vertical subsurface flow treatment wetland: Field studies and microscale biofilm modeling. Bioresource Technology, 209, 125-132.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2016.02.065
[16] Wang, X., Zhang, F., Ghulam, A., Trumbo, A. L., Yang, J., Ren, Y., & Jing, Y. (2017). Evaluation and estimation of surface water quality in an arid region based on EEM-PARAFAC and 3D fluorescence spectral index: A case study of the Ebinur Lake Watershed, China. Catena, 155, 62-74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2017.03.006
[17] Beutel, M. W., Newton, C. D., Brouillard, E. S., Watts, R. J. (2009). Nitrate removal in surface-flow constructed wetlands treating dilute agricultural runoff in the lower Yakima Basin, Washington. Ecological Engineering, 35(10), 1538-1546.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2009.07.005
[18] Brix, H., Arias, C. A. (2005). The use of vertical flow constructed wetlands for on-site treatment of domestic wastewater: New Danish guidelines. Ecological Engineering, 25(5), 491-500.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2005.07.009
[19] Al-Isawi, R. H. K., Sani, A., Almuktar, S. A. A. A. N., Scholz, M. (2015). Vertical-flow constructed wetlands treating domestic wastewater contaminated by hydrocarbons. Water Science and Technology, 71(6), 938-946.
https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2015.054
[20] Jing, S. R., Lin, Y. F., Wang, T. W., Lee, D. Y. (2002). Microcosm wetlands for wastewater treatment with different hydraulic loading rates and macrophytes. Journal of Environmental Quality, 31(2), 690-696.
https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2002.6900
[21] Trang, N. T. D., Konnerup, D., Schierup, H. H., Chiem, N. H., Brix, H. (2010). Kinetics of pollutant removal from domestic wastewater in a tropical horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland system: effects of hydraulic loading rate. Ecological Engineering, 36(4), 527-535.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2009.11.022
[22] Metcalf and Eddy Inc. 1991. Wastewater Engineering: Treatment, Disposal andReuse, 3rd ed. McGraw Hill, New York, 1334 pp. (revised by G. Tchobanoglousand F.L. Burton).
[23] Paing, J., Guilbert, A., Gagnon, V., Chazarenc, F. (2015). Effect of climate, wastewater composition, loading rates, system age and design on performances of French vertical flow constructed wetlands: A survey based on 169 full scale systems. Ecological Engineering, 80, 46-52.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.10.029
[24] Fan, J., Zhang, B., Zhang, J., Ngo, H.H., Guo, W., Liu, F., Guo, Y., Wu, H. (2013). Intermittent aeration strategy to enhance organics and nitrogen removal in subsurface flow constructed wetlands. Bioresource Technology, 141, 117-122.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2013.03.077
[25] Kadlec, R.H.; Knight, R.L., 1996. Treatment Wetlands; CRC Press/Lewis Publishers: Boca Raton, FL, USA.
[26] Cooper, P. (2005). The performance of vertical flow constructed wetland systems with special reference to the significance of oxygen transfer and hydraulic loading rates. Water Science and Technology, 51(9), 81-90. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2005.0293
[27] American Public Health Association (APHA)., 2005. In: Eaton AD, Clesceri LS, Rice EW, Greenberg AE (eds). Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. 21st edn., American Water Works Association: Water Pollution Control Federation. Washington. DC. 1368p.
[28] Sharma, P. K., Minakshi, D., Rani, A., Malaviya, P. (2018). Treatment efficiency of vertical flow constructed wetland systems operated under different recirculation rates. Ecological Engineering, 120, 474-480.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2018.07.004
[29] Cooper, P. F., Job, G. D., Green, M. B., Shutes, R. B. E. (1997). Reed beds and constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment. European water pollution control, 6(7), 49. https://resolver.scholarsportal.info/resolve/09255060/v07i0006/49_rbacwfwt.xml
[30] Sharma, P. K., Takashi, I., Kato, K., Ietsugu, H., Tomita, K., Nagasawa, T. (2013). Effects of load fluctuations on treatment potential of a hybrid sub-surface flow constructed wetland treating milking parlor waste water. Ecological Engineering, 57, 216-225.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2013.04.031
[31] Kadlec, R. H., Wallace, S., 2008. Treatment wetlands. Second ed., CRC press, Newyork.
[32] Tanner, C. C., Clayton, J. S., Upsdell, M. P. (1995). Effect of loading rate and planting on treatment of dairy farm wastewaters in constructed wetlands—I. Removal of oxygen demand, suspended solids and faecal coliforms. Water Research, 29(1), 17-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/0043-1354(94)00139-X
[33] Kantawanichkul, S., Wannasri, S. (2013). Wastewater treatment performances of horizontal and vertical subsurface flow constructed wetland systems in tropical climate. Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology, 35(5), 599-603.
[34] Vohla, C., Kõiv, M., Bavor, H. J., Chazarenc, F., Mander, Ü. (2011). Filter materials for phosphorus removal from wastewater in treatment wetlands—A review Ecological Engineering, 37(1), 70-89.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2009.08.003
[35] Saeed, T., Muntaha, S., Rashid, M., Sun, G., Hasnat, A. (2018). Industrial wastewater treatment in constructed wetlands packed with construction materials and agricultural by-products. Journal of Cleaner Production, 189, 442-453.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.04.115
[36] Amin, A. F. M. S., Hasnat, A., Khan, A. H., Ashiquzzaman, M. (2015). Residual cementing property in recycled fines and coarse aggregates: Occurrence and quantification. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 28(4), 04015174. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0001472
[37] Cooper, P. F., McBarnet, W., O’Donnell, D., MacMahon, A., Houston, L., Brian, M. (2010). The treatment of run-off from a fertilizer factory for nitrification, denitrification and P removal by constructed wetlands: a demonstration study. Water Science and Technoogyl, 61(2), 355-363.
https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2010.801
[38] Kara Thanasis, A. D., Johnson, C. M. (2003). Metal removal potential by three aquatic plants in an acid mine drainage wetland. Mine Water and the Environment, 22(1), 22-30.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s102300300004
[39] Reed, S. C., Brown, D. (1995). Subsurface flow wetlands—a performance evaluation. Water Environment Research, 67(2), 244-248.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/25044544.
[40] Ghosh, D., Gopal, B. (2010). Effect of hydraulic retention time on the treatment of secondary effluent in a subsurface flow constructed wetland. Ecological Engineering, 36(8), 1044-1051.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2010.04.017
[41] Chang, J., Zhang, X., Perfler, R., Xu, Q. S., Niu, X. Y., Ge, Y. (2007). Effect of hydraulic loading rate on the removal efficiency in a constructed wetland in subtropical China. Fresenius Environmental Bulletin, 16(9), 1082-1086.
[42] Shubiao, W., David, A., Lin, L., Renjie, D. (2011). Performance of integrated household constructed wetland for domestic wastewater treatment in rural areas. Ecological Engineering, 37(6), 948-954.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2011.02.002
[43] Manios, T., Stentiford, E. I., Millner, P. (2003). Removal of total suspended solids from wastewater in constructed horizontal flow subsurface wetlands. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A, 38(6), 1073-1085.
https://doi.org/10.1081/ESE-120019865
 
Advances in Environmental Technology
Volume 9, Issue 3
September 2023
Pages 227-241

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 18 April 2023
  • Revise Date: 22 August 2023
  • Accept Date: 23 August 2023

Share

How to cite

Statistics