Performance Evaluation of a Constructed Wetland Treating High-Ammonium Primary Domestic Wastewater Effluent

• Published in: Water environment research Vol. 82; no. 7; pp. 592 - 600
• Main Authors: Spokas, L. A., Veneman, P. L. M., Simkins, S. C., Long, S. C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Water Environment Federation 601 Wythe Street Alexandria, VA 22314‐1994 U.S.A Water Environment Federation 01.07.2010; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Ammonium; Applied sciences; Artificial wetlands; Biochemical oxygen demand; Constructed wetlands; Continental surface waters; Domestic wastewater; Effluents; Environmental conditions; Exact sciences and technology; Freshwater; General purification processes; Microorganisms; Natural water pollution; Nitrites; Nitrogen; nitrogen removal; Oxygen; Performance evaluation; Pollution; primary effluent; Quaternary ammonium compounds; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds - chemistry; Storage tanks; Studies; submerged‐bed constructed wetland; Temperature effects; top‐loading; vertical flow; Wastewater; Wastewater treatment; Wastewaters; Water treatment; Water treatment and pollution; Wetlands; USA, New York; Vertical flow; Ammonium; Nitrites; Nitrates; Nitrogen; Waste water; Biological purification; Domestic waste water; Loading; Artificial medium; Surface water; Nitrogen dioxide; Waste water purification; Wetland
• ISSN: 1061-4303; 1554-7531
• DOI: 10.2175/106143009X12529484815836

An investigation of a top-loading, vertical-flow, submerged-bed constructed wetland system subject to a New York State discharge permit, of mineral nitrogen transformations occurring within the wetland units, and of the effects of local environment on system performance indicated 100% removal of biochemical oxygen demand (B0D) and mean 99.0 ± 1.1% removal of ammonium (NH 4 + ). The wetland system, located in Highland, New York, treats primary domestic wastewater effluent and consists of four beds presently operated in series. Influent and effluent samples from each of the four treatment units were analyzed for BOD, ammonium-nitrogen (NH 4 + -N), nitrate-nitrogen (NO 3 − -N), and nitrite-nitrogen (NO 2 − -N). During the study, mean influent wastewater concentrations were 170.8, 3.1, and 0.015 mg/L for NH 4 + -N, NO 3 − -N, and NO 2 − -N were 1.9, 4.2, and 0.002 mg/L, respectively.