Vegetation-based Wastewater Treatment Technologies for Rural Areas in Japan

Abstract

Nitrogen and phosphorus loading of rural areas in Japan has recently exceeded environmental tolerance levels, thereby causing deterioration of aquatic environments. Rural areas need suitable low-energy, low-cost purification technologies. Vegetation-based water treatment uses the purification functions inherent to natural ecosystems and is therefore likely to be adaptable to rural areas. Here, we review the water purification processes associated with vegetation-based water treatment systems. We then describe three purification technologies that are being developed for practical water pollution treatment in rural districts. The first is a free-water-surface-flow constructed wetland planted with indigenous wild rice (Zizania latifolia) in the Koibuchi College biotope zone, which receives secondary-treated wastewater from the college dormitories. The second is a hybridtype subsurface-flow constructed wetland system for purifying milking-parlor wastewater in cold regions. The third is a biogeofilter channel in which terrestrial plants (including most crops) can be grown by adjusting the filter material height to suit the plants' moisture tolerance. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the three treatment technologies in terms of their introduction at various sites, and we consider yudone, a traditional vegetation-based purification system once used by Kyushu-region farmers.

Seasonal efficiency of a hybrid sub-surface flow constructed wetland system in treating milking parlor wastewater at northern Hokkaido

“…Hybrid CWs has gained popularity all over the world and been operated for the treatment of various kinds of waste waters. (Burka and Lawrence, 1990;Kantawanichkul and Neamkam, 2003;Brix et al, 2003;Bulc, 2006;Öövel, 2007;Tuszyñska, 2008;Justin, 2009;Singh et al, 2009;Vymazal, 2011;Serrano et al, 2011), however limited studies are available reflecting the treatment potential of hybrid CWs for high strength dairy/milking parlor wastewater under extremely cold climates (Reeb and Werckmann, 2005;Abe et al, 2010, Sharma et al, 2011.…”

“…Live stock wastewater treatment became rigorous in Japan after the enforcement of new law on 'Livestock excreta management and recycling' in 2004 (Abe et al, 2010 (Fig. 1).…”

The biomass accumulation and nutrient storage of five plant species in an in-situ phytoremediation experiment in the Ningxia irrigation area

“…Agricultural non-point sources are regarded as important contributors to elevated nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) pollution in surface waters; which mainly caused by excessive application and the low use efficiency of fertilizers and pesticides in agricultural ecosystems 1–5 . Agricultural non-point sources (ANPS) contributed 60–87% and 70% of the watershed pollutants in North America 6 and Sweden 7 , respectively.…”

“…In addition to Japan 1 , the United States 13,25 and Australia 28 , phytoremediation has also been reported to be widely applied in China 29,30 , and primarily in southern China because that the rice cultivation is mainly located in southern areas. For example, Kumwimba et al .…”

Suitability of nutrients removal from brewery wastewater using a hydroponic technology with Typha latifolia

“…Development of alternative treatment methods that utilizes the advantages of natural processes in the ecosystem is increasing in the area of wastewater management [ 10 , 11 ]. Various studies have shown that hydroponics has been found to remove nutrients more efficiently and ecologically friendly than constructed wetlands and as a wastewater technology requires less area, is inexpensive and can be implemented onsite [ 11 , 12 ]. It is one of the phytoremediation techniques that attract interest in researches of wastewater treatments.…”