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Modelling Alternative Feeding Techniques in HSF Constructed Wetlands

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Abstract

The effects of two alternative operational techniques, i.e., effluent recirculation and step-feeding, on the removal of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) in Horizontal Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetlands (HSF CWs) are evaluated numerically. These include two feeding techniques: under the first technique, a percentage of the effluent is re-introduced to the wetland inlet; while under the second, wastewater is introduced to the HSF CW at several points along the flow path. For the numerical simulation, the Visual MODFLOW family code was used. This model has been calibrated using experimental data collected in five HSF CW pilot-scale units. Application of the model to study effluent recirculation showed that this operation mode does not improve the performance of the Constructed Wetlands (CWs), which seems to decrease as the effluent recirculating quantity increases. Although recirculation dilutes the influent pollutant concentration, the decrease in Hydraulic Residence Time (HRT), due to the additional flow entering the system, seems to act negatively on CW performance. For the step-feeding case, various values of the step-feeding percentage factors have been investigated at three inflow points along the CW. Again, the results showed no performance improvement. Thus, both operation modes are not recommended for HSF CWs.

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Acknowledgments

This research has been co-financed by the European Union (European Social Fund – ESF) and Greek National Funds through the Operational Program “Education and Lifelong Learning” of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) – Research Funding Program: Heracleitus II. Investing in knowledge society through the European Social Fund. An initial version of this paper has been presented in the WASTEnet Program Conference, “Sustainable Solutions to Wastewater Management: Maximizing the Impact of Territorial Co-operation”, Kavala, Greece, June 19–21, 2015.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Ecological Engineering and Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, 67100, Xanthi, Greece

    Konstantinos A. Liolios & Konstantinos N. Moutsopoulos

  2. Centre for the Assessment of Natural Hazards and Proactive Planning, and Laboratory of Reclamation Works and Water Resources Management, Department of Infrastructure and Rural Development, School of Rural and Surveying Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Iroon Polytechniou St., Zografou, 157 73, Athens, Greece

    Vassilios A. Tsihrintzis

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  1. Konstantinos A. Liolios
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  2. Konstantinos N. Moutsopoulos
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  3. Vassilios A. Tsihrintzis
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Correspondence to Vassilios A. Tsihrintzis.

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Liolios, K.A., Moutsopoulos, K.N. & Tsihrintzis, V.A. Modelling Alternative Feeding Techniques in HSF Constructed Wetlands. Environ. Process. 3 (Suppl 1), 47–63 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40710-016-0175-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40710-016-0175-x

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