Floating Wetlands for Sustainable Drainage Wastewater Treatment

Abstract

The preservation of water resources in modern urbanized society is a major concern. In this study, a floating constructed wetland (FWT) pilot plant was designed and constructed for the treatment of a polluted wastewater drain. A series of experiments were run continuously for a year in pilot-scale FWTs in a semi-arid area located in Egypt’s Delta. Four aquatic plant species (Eichhornia, Ceratophyllum, Pistia stratiotes, and Nymphaea lotus) were used to assess the performance of FWTs for pollutant removals, such as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), electrical conductivity (EC), and total dissolved solids (TDS), from drainage wastewater to reuse the treated effluent in irrigation practices. The FWT systems were fed drainage tainted water on a weekly basis, and the concentrations and removal efficiency were assessed in the experiments. The average reduction in BOD, COD, TSS, TDS, TN, EC, and TP were 76–86%, 61–80%, 87–95%, 36.6–44.1%, 70–97%, 37–44%, and 83–96%, respectively. ANOVA with Post-HOC t-tests show that the Eichhornia, Pistia stratiotes, and Nymphaea lotus have the highest BOD and COD removal performance, whereas Pistia stratiotes and Nymphaea lotus have the highest TN and TP removal performance. In all cases, the Nymphaea lotus performed well in terms of pollutant removal. In addition, a design procedure for a FWT systems is presented. For wastewater treatment, FWT systems have proven to be a low-cost, long-term option.

Enhanced data-driven monitoring of wastewater treatment plants using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test

“…4 They help conserve water resources, protect aquatic ecosystems, mitigate the spread of waterborne diseases, and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient society. 5…”

“…4 They help conserve water resources, protect aquatic ecosystems, mitigate the spread of waterborne diseases, and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient society. 5 Monitoring the operating conditions of WWTPs and the quality of recycled water is of paramount importance in ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of these facilities. 6 A rigorous and continuous monitoring process is necessary to evaluate the plant's performance, detect and rectify potential issues, and guarantee compliance with environmental regulations.…”

Performance evaluation of hybrid constructed wetlands for nitrogen removal and statistical approaches

“…Agricultural runoff, industrial discharges, and municipal effluents are among the primary contributors to elevated nitrogen levels in water bodies (Salem et al, 2022). This influx of nitrogen can lead to eutrophication, oxygen depletion, and a host of ecological and public health concerns (Gabr et al, 2022).…”

A Subsurface Horizontal Constructed Wetland Design Approach for Wastewater Treatment: Application in Ar Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

“…The choice of wastewater treatment for both point and nonpoint source contamination has become a key priority for concerned governments all over the world. So, while choosing a suitable environmental cleanup technique, the cost of treatment is frequently used [1][2][3][4]. Constructed wetlands (CWs) are water-quality-improvement technologies that leverage natural processes involving microbial assemblages, wetland vegetation, and soils.…”