Subsurface-flow constructed wetlands in Spain for the sanitation of small communities: A comparative study

Effect of primary treatment and organic loading on methane emissions from horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands treating urban wastewater

“…This result is in accordance to previous findings in literature where it has been described that overloaded systems can perform similarly to those operated under lower organic loading conditions (Puigagut et al, 2007). Overall, our results suggest that organic loading has a significant effect on the status redox of the wetland which translates in significant differences in terms of ammonia removal rather than on organic matter removal.…”

“…Low energy consumption and operation costs are some of the advantages of this technology that make it a viable option for the sanitation of small communities (PE<2000) (García et al 2001, Puigagut et al, 2007. In SSF CW organic matter is removed by means of physical, chemical and biological processes that occur naturally and simultaneously within the treatment bed.…”

“…In wetlands methane is produced whenever redox conditions are below -200 mV and only after other electron acceptors such as nitrate or sulphate have been reduced (Mitsch and Gosselink, 2000). Moreover, organic loading is of special concern in the context of Spain due to the large number of systems operated under high organic load conditions (Puigagut et al, 2007). …”

Estudio de los Humedales Artificiales de Flujo Superficial del Tancat de la Pipa como instrumentos para la restauración ambiental del lago de l'Albufera de Valencia

“…Estos sistemas se han consolidado alrededor del mundo como una buena alternativa para el saneamiento de pequeñas comunidades frente a los sistemas convencionales (Puigagut et al, 2007), ya que logran la eliminación de sustancias contaminantes de las aguas residuales a través de mecanismos y procesos naturales, los cuales no requieren ni energía externa ni aditivos químicos. En ellos, un gran número de procesos de descontaminación son ejecutados por sinergia de diferentes comunidades de organismos (Garcia & Corzo, 2008).…”

“…No obstante, esta tecnología no está tan expandida en España como en otros países de la Unión Europea, pese a la idoneidad del clima para este tipo de tratamientos. Aún así, en los últimos años ha habido un crecimiento en la implantación de HA para el saneamiento de pequeñas comunidades, sobre todo en Cataluña, Andalucía y las Islas Canarias (Puigagut et al, 2007).…”