Verifying the efficacy in removing nutrients using wastewater treatment stations by constructed wetlands

Abstract

Due to the difficult access to conventional systems of collection and sewage treatment in low income rural communities, there is the need for low cost alternative technologies to treat such effluents. This study aimed to verify the efficacy of sewage treatment systems by constructed wetlands in the removal of the nutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca) and Magnesium (Mg), in two wastewater treatment stations (WWTS) located in a school and in a family house in small communities in the city of Irati/Brazil. Results revealed a good performance in the removal of the nutrients N and P in both systems, 75% and 37% for the house and 41% and 69% for the school, respective; which is associated to the plant uptake ability. However, the index of Ca and Mg presented significant increase, with 156% and 88% for the house and 165% and 128% for the school effluent, respectively, due to the use of gravel (rich in Ca and Mg) in the filter composition.

Development of the Horizontal Flow Wetland Using Palm Waste Biochar for Greywater Reclamation

“…The average PO 4 concentrations were lower in treated water compared with the inflow water (Tables 2 and 3). The PO 4 reduction in wetland is assimilated by plants or occurred by precipitation, sedimentation and adsorption (Kozak et al, 2014;Shukla et al, 2021). The expected mechanisms for PO 4 removal in this research are assimilation, sedimentation, and adsorption.…”

“…No significant difference (p> 0.00) were founded between R1 and R2 in terms of the mean Ca and Mg concentrations. This because these two elements are absorbed by plant in the form Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ ions, as essential elements for plants survival (Kozak et al, 2014). The biochar filter had lower calcium and magnesium values than the control filter.…”