Changes in bacteria composition and efficiency of constructed wetlands under sustained overloads: A modeling experiment

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 612; pp. 1480 - 1487
• Main Authors: Boano, F., Rizzo, A., Samsó, R., García, J., Revelli, R., Ridolfi, L.
• Format: Journal Article Publication
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.01.2018; Elsevier
• Subjects: bacteria; BIO_PORE; Buffering capacity; chemical oxygen demand; Constructed wetland; Constructed wetlands; Desenvolupament humà i sostenible; Enginyeria ambiental; Environmental Sciences; Hydraulic load; longevity; mathematical models; microbial biomass; Organic load; Tractament de l'aigua; Zones humides artificials; Àrees temàtiques de la UPC; Organic load; OLR; Constructed wetland; BIO_PORE; Hydraulic load; HF CWs; HRT; Buffering capacity; HLR; HYDRAULIC LOAD; BUFFERING CAPACITY; ORGANIC LOAD; CONSTRUCTED WETLAND
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.08.265

The average organic and hydraulic loads that Constructed Wetlands (CWs) receive are key parameters for their adequate long-term functioning. However, over their lifespan they will inevitably be subject to either episodic or sustained overloadings. Despite that the consequences of sustained overloading are well known (e.g., clogging), the threshold of overloads that these systems can tolerate is difficult to determine. Moreover, the mechanisms that might sustain the buffering capacity (i.e., the reduction of peaks in nutrient load) during overloads are not well understood. The aim of this work is to evaluate the effect of sudden but sustained organic and hydraulic overloads on the general functioning of CWs. To that end, the mathematical model BIO_PORE was used to simulate five different scenarios, based on the features and operation conditions of a pilot CW system: a control simulation representing the average loads; 2 simulations representing +10% and +30% sustained organic overloads; one simulation representing a sustained +30% hydraulic overload; and one simulation with sustained organic and hydraulic overloads of +15% each. Different model outputs (e.g., total bacterial biomass and its spatial distribution, effluent concentrations) were compared among different simulations to evaluate the effects of such operation changes. Results reveal that overloads determine a temporary decrease in removal efficiency before microbial biomass adapts to the new conditions and COD removal efficiency is recovered. Increasing organic overloads cause stronger temporary decreases in COD removal efficiency compared to increasing hydraulic loads. The pace at which clogging develops increases by 10% for each 10% increase on the organic load. [Display omitted] •Little experimental evidence on the assumed buffering capacity of CWs has so far been provided.•Five simulations representing different overloading scenarios on a HF CW were run.•Removal efficiency temporarily drops before recovering pre-overload values.•Microbial community composition is influenced by overload conditions.