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Multistage Horizontal Subsurface Flow vs. Hybrid Constructed Wetlands for the Treatment of Raw Urban Wastewater

Author

Listed:
  • José Alberto Herrera-Melián

    (Department of Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Studies and Natural Resources (i-UNAT), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas, Spain)

  • Mónica Mendoza-Aguiar

    (School of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas, Spain)

  • Rayco Guedes-Alonso

    (Department of Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Studies and Natural Resources (i-UNAT), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas, Spain)

  • Pilar García-Jiménez

    (Department of Biology, Institute of Environmental Studies and Natural Resources (i-UNAT), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas, Spain)

  • Marina Carrasco-Acosta

    (Department of Biology, Institute of Environmental Studies and Natural Resources (i-UNAT), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas, Spain)

  • Ezio Ranieri

    (Department of Biology, University of Bari, 70125 Bari, Italy)

Abstract

In this study, pilot-scale hybrid constructed wetlands (CWs) and multistage horizontal subsurface flow CWs (HF CWs) have been studied and compared for the treatment of raw urban wastewater. In the hybrid CWs, the first stage was a mulch-based horizontal subsurface flow CW and the second stage was a vertical subsurface flow CW (VF CW). The VF CWs were used to determine if sand could improve the performance of the hybrid CW with respect to the mulch. In the multistage HFs, mulch, gravel and sand were used as substrates. The effect of water height (HF10: 10 cm vs. HF40: 40 cm) and surface loading rate (SLR: 12 vs. 24 g Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)/m 2 d) has been studied. The results show that the use of sand in the vertical flow stage of the hybrid CW did not improve the average performance. Additionally, the sand became clogged, while the mulch did not. The effect of water height on average pollutant removal was not determined but HF10 performed better regarding compliance with legal regulations. With a SLR of 12 g COD/m 2 d, removals of HF10 were: 79% for COD, 75% for NH 4 + -N, 53% for dissolved molybdate-reactive phosphate-P (DRP), 99% for turbidity and 99.998% for E. coli and total coliforms. When SLR was doubled, removals decreased for NH 4 + -N: 49%, DRP: −20%, E coli and total coliforms: 99.5–99.9%, but not for COD (85%) and turbidity (99%). Considering the obtained results and the simplicity of the construction and operation of HFs, HF10 would be the most suitable choice for the treatment of raw urban wastewater without clogging problems.

Suggested Citation

  • José Alberto Herrera-Melián & Mónica Mendoza-Aguiar & Rayco Guedes-Alonso & Pilar García-Jiménez & Marina Carrasco-Acosta & Ezio Ranieri, 2020. "Multistage Horizontal Subsurface Flow vs. Hybrid Constructed Wetlands for the Treatment of Raw Urban Wastewater," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-15, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:12:p:5102-:d:375109
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mette Bendixen & Jim Best & Chris Hackney & Lars Lønsmann Iversen, 2019. "Time is running out for sand," Nature, Nature, vol. 571(7763), pages 29-31, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. José Alberto Herrera-Melián & Rayco Guedes-Alonso & Jean Carlos Tite-Lezcano & Dunia E. Santiago & Ezio Ranieri & Ignacio Alonso-Bilbao, 2023. "The Effect of Effluent Recirculation in a Full-Scale Constructed Wetland System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-12, February.
    2. Marwa M. Waly & Taha Ahmed & Ziyad Abunada & Slobodan B. Mickovski & Craig Thomson, 2022. "Constructed Wetland for Sustainable and Low-Cost Wastewater Treatment: Review Article," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-17, August.
    3. María Jesica Montero-Martínez & María del Refugio Castañeda-Chávez & Fabiola Lango-Reynoso & Gabycarmen Navarrete-Rodríguez & Leonardo Martínez-Cárdenas, 2023. "Removal of Pathogenic Bacteria in a Horizontally Fed Subsurface Constructed Wetland Hybrid System," J, MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-16, August.
    4. Fabio Conti & Elena Cristina Rada & Paolo Viotti & Massimo Raboni, 2021. "Removal and Survival of Fecal Indicators in a Constructed Wetland after UASB Pre-Treatment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-16, August.

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