Constructed Wetlands Treating Runoff Contaminated with Nutrients

Abstract

The aim was to assess the role of Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. in experimental, mature, and temporarily flooded vertical flow wetland filters treating urban runoff rich in organic matter. During the experiment, ammonium chloride was added to sieved concentrated road runoff to simulate primary treated urban runoff contaminated with nitrogen. Five days at 20A degrees C N-allylthiourea biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand removal efficiencies were relatively lower for planted than unplanted filters. Moreover, there was no significant difference for BOD removal for all filters under fluctuating inflow concentrations of sulfate. The nitrogen removal performances of planted filters were more efficient and stable throughout the seasons compared to those of unplanted filters. A substantial load of nitrogen (approximately 500 mg per filter) was removed by harvesting P. australis. Plant uptake was the main removal mechanism for nitrogen during high concentrations (10 mg/L) of ammonia-nitrogen in the urban runoff.

Keywords

Constructed treatment wetland; Phragmites australis; Ammonia-nitrogen; Biochemical oxygen demand; Suspended solids; Macrophyte harvesting

Published in

Water, Air, and Soil Pollution
2010, volume: 205, number: 1-4, pages: 323-332
Publisher: SPRINGER

SLU Authors

• Hedmark, Åsa

  • Department of Forest Products, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Global goals (SDG)

SDG6 Clean water and sanitation
SDG11 Sustainable cities and communities

UKÄ Subject classification

Environmental Management
Water Treatment

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-009-0076-y

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/48801