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 (original) (raw)
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Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 2014
Small vertical-flow constructed wetland units comprising the first stage of the French system were studied in Brazil for the treatment of raw sewage. Planted and unplanted units and different feeding strategies were tested. In the first phase, hourly batches of a daily flow of 13 m3 d−1 were applied over three alternating units, resulting in an average hydraulic loading rate (HLR) on the full system of 0.15 m3 m−2 d−1. A second phase, aimed at reducing land requirements, kept the same daily flow and batch frequency, but used two alternating units, resulting in a HLR on the full system of 0.22 m3 m−2 d−1. Removal efficiencies were very good when the system operated with three units, with mean values of 82% for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), 81% for chemical oxygen demand (COD), 85% for total suspended solids (TSS) and 59% for NH4+-N. With two units, the equivalent values were 74% for BOD, 59% for COD, 67% for TSS and 51% for NH4+-N. There were significant differences in the median ...
Water Science and Technology
When implementing a sanitation system, the selection of treatment process can be difficult. Beyond removal efficiency and effluent concentrations, reliability should be taken into account. This study compares reliability of French vertical flow treatment wetlands (F-VFTW) with the four main decentralized wastewater treatment technologies in small communities in the French Overseas Territories (FOT). Analysis of 963 regulatory self-monitoring sampling campaigns performed on 213 wastewater treatment plants show that operational disruptions due to sludge loss and loss of nitrification are often reported for activated sludge technology; rotating biological contactors often suffer from weak settlement; facultative pond removal is limited by algae; and F-VFTW fulfills all the French regulatory objectives at a frequency of 90 to 95%. In addition, the data from this study are compared to a similar database from Brazil using a statistical approach (coefficient of reliability). Amongst the ei...
Water Science and Technology, 2018
The German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste e.V. (DWA) has published a new standard for the dimensioning, construction, and operation of constructed wetlands for treatment of domestic and municipal wastewater. The changes to the standard are based on a wide range of experience gained in recent years in Germany and Europe. For the first time ever, the standard has been officially translated and published in English. This paper summarizes the new standard for secondary treatment of domestic wastewater with classical one-stage unsaturated vertical flow (VF) wetlands, VF wetlands with lava sand for treatment of wastewater from combined sewer systems, and actively aerated VF and horizontal flow (HF) flow wetlands. Two-stage unsaturated VF wetlands treating raw wastewater (French VF wetlands), are also included in the new standard. HF wetlands are no longer described in the standard for secondary treatment of domestic wastewater. This does not exclude their application. Existing HF wetland systems in Germany may continue to be operated so long as effluent parameters are met and proper operations and maintenance is ensured. This paper gives an overview of the new design standard, including key information on wastewater type and loading, as well as primary attributes of each wetland design.
Ecological Engineering, 2005
Official guidelines for the on-site treatment of domestic sewage have recently been published by the Danish Ministry of Environment as a consequence of new treatment requirements for single houses and dwellings in rural areas. This paper summarises the guidelines for vertical constructed wetland systems (planted filter beds) that will fulfil demands of 95% removal of BOD and 90% nitrification. The system can be extended with chemical precipitation of phosphorus with aluminium polychloride in the sedimentation tank to meet requirements of 90% phosphorus removal. The necessary surface area of the filter bed is 3.2 m 2 /person equivalent and the effective filter depth is 1.0 m. The filter medium must be filtersand with a d 10 between 0.25 and 1.2 mm, a d 60 between 1 and 4 mm, and a uniformity coefficient (U = d 60 /d 10 ) less than 3.5. The sewage is, after sedimentation, pulse-loaded onto the surface of the bed using pumping and a network of distribution pipes. The drainage layer in the bottom of the bed is passively aerated through vertical pipes extending into the atmosphere in order to improve oxygen transfer to the bed medium. Half of the nitrified effluent from the filter is recirculated to the first chamber of the sedimentation tank or to the pumping well in order to enhance denitrification and to stabilise the treatment performance of the system. A phosphorus removal system is installed in the sedimentation tank using a small dosing pump. The mixing of chemicals is obtained by a simple airlift pump, which also circulates water in the sedimentation tank. The vertical flow constructed wetland system is an attractive alternative to the common practice of soil infiltration and provides efficient treatment of sewage for discharge into the aquatic environment. (H. Brix). sewage directly into watercourses, lakes, or the sea. This discharge of poorly treated sewage is responsible for many watercourses and lakes not presently meeting their quality objectives (Ministry of Environment and Energy, 2000). Therefore, national regulations have recently been adopted which define the permissible discharge of organic matter and nutrients from these 0925-8574/$ -see front matter
Constructed wetlands in Europe
Water science and technology, 1995
Many European countries have recently stated an increasing demand for small waste water treatment plants. Constructed wetlands seem to be particularly well suited for on-site treatment due to their simple construction and large buffering capacity. A number of different designs exist in Europe. above all subsurface flow systems. which have been in use for 20 years. At first, horizontal flow was preferred but the stringent legal rules have led to the development of highly efficient vertical flow in recent years. In order to meet the higher requirements of small and very sensitive recipients, combined systems (i.e, constructed wetlands and conventional biological plants) have proved to be successful. At present, tests are being carried out to study the use of constructed wetlands for other applications as well, such as the treatment of groundwater. industrial waste water and sludge dewatering. All our present know-how and experience with constructed wetlands should enable us to convince the authorities and to obtain legal permission for the installation of constructed wetlands.
The Historical Development of Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment
Land, 2022
Constructed wetlands (CWs) for wastewater treatment are engineered systems that are designed and operated in order to use all natural processes involved in the removal of pollutants from wastewaters. CWs are designed to take advantage of many of the same processes that occur in natural wetlands, but do so within a more controlled environment. The basic classification is based on the presence/absence of wastewater on the wetland surface. The subsurface flow of CWs can be classified according to the direction of the flow to horizontal and vertical. The combination of various types of CWs is called hybrid CW. The CWs technology began in the 1950s in Germany, but the major extension across the world occurred during the 1990s and early 2000s. The early CWs in Germany were designed as hybrid CWs; however, during the 1970s and 1980s, horizontal subsurface flow CWs were mostly designed. The stricter limits for nitrogen, and especially ammonia, applied in Europe during the 1990s, brought mor...
How to treat raw sewage with constructed wetlands: An overview of the French systems
Water Science & Technology
The development of vertical flow constructed wetlands treating raw wastewater in France has proved to be very successful over the last 20 years. In view of this a survey was carried out on more than 80 plants in order to study their performance and correct the design if necessary. This study shows that such systems perform well in terms of respecting the goals of both low level outlet COD and SS and nitrification. Pollutant removal performance in relation to the loads handled and the specific characteristics of the plants were investigated. Nitrification is shown to be the most sensitive process in such systems and performance in relation to sizing is discussed. Such systems, if well designed, can achieve an outlet level of 60 mg L 21 in COD, 15 mg L 21 in SS and 8 mg L 21 in TKN with an area of 2-2.5 m 2 .PE 21 . The sludge deposit on the first stage must be removed after about 10 -15 years.
Current World Environment
This study aimed to investigate the performance of the French Type Constructed Wetlands (FTCW) at a pilot scale level in real field conditions for sewage treatment in India. The pilot plant consisted of hybrid wetlands in two stages, vertical and horizontal sub-surface flow types. The first stage comprised three compartments, vegetated with three different native plants (phragmites australis, canna indica, and sagittaria), operated in parallel, and sequentially loaded. Each VSSF bed of 12.25m2 was fed with raw sewage directly for 3.5 days followed by twice the time resting period. The second stage consisted of one bed of an area of 45m2, planted with canna indica. The filter media used in stage 1 was a dual type (gravel and coarse sand) in three layers. The first stage was designed for the loadings of 33.75gBOD/m2d and 14.1 gNH4-N/m2d with the flexibility to operate at a variable hydraulic loading rate (HLR). Two years of monitoring data after the steady-state condition show variabl...
Ecological Engineering, 2013
The Langenreichenbach ecotechnology research facility contains 15 individual pilot-scale treatment systems of eight different designs or operational variants. The designs differ in terms of flow direction, degree of media saturation, media type, loading regime, and aeration mechanism. Seven systems were constructed as planted and unplanted pairs, in order to elucidate the role of common reed (Phragmites australis) in these technologies. The facility is unique in the fact that it is located adjacent to the wastewater treatment plant for the nearby village, enabling all of the pilot-scale systems to receive the same wastewater. The construction of the Langenreichenbach research facility is placed within the overarching discipline of ecological engineering. An overview of the treatment wetland design spectrum (ranging from passive to highly intensified designs) is discussed and the specific designs implemented at Langenreichenbach are presented in detail, along with the internal sampling methods for both saturated and unsaturated systems.
Seasonal assessment of experimental vertical-flow constructed wetlands treating domestic wastewater
Bioresource Technology, 2013
The aim of this work was to compare the impact of different design (aggregate size) and operational (contact time, empty time and chemical oxygen demand (COD) loading) variables on the long-term and seasonal performance of vertical-flow constructed wetland filters operated in tidal flow mode. Compliance was achieved regarding ammonia-nitrogen, nitrate-nitrogen and suspended solids (SS), and non-compliance concerning biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and ortho-phosphatephosphorus. The filter with the highest COD loading performed the best regarding outflow COD concentration. Higher COD inflow concentrations had a significantly positive impact on the treatment performance for COD, ortho-phosphate-phosphorus and SS. The wetland with the largest aggregate size had the lowest mean nitrate-nitrogen outflow concentration. However, the results were similar regardless of aggregate size and resting time for most variables. Clear seasonal outflow concentration trends (low in summer) were recorded for COD, ammonia-nitrogen and nitrate-nitrogen. No filter clogging was observed.