Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Application of Vertical Flow Constructed Wetlands for Highly Contaminated Wastewater Treatment: Preliminary Results

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Water and Nutrient Management in Natural and Constructed Wetlands

Abstract

Based on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of reject waters (RWC) generated during dewatering of digested sewage sludge on centrifuges in conventional WWTP and municipal landfill leachate (LL), the pilot constructed wetlands for treatment of both types wastewater were designed and built. In the paper the conception, design and assumed treatment efficiencies of the pilot plants are presented. The water balance of the pilot treatment wetlands is presented and potential implications of water losses through evapotranspiration in case of treating wastewater with high concentrations of pollutants are discussed. Preliminary treatment results, obtained during the start-up period, showed good treatment effectiveness of BOD (74% for RWC and 84.5% for LL), while the effectiveness of ammonia nitrogen removal was below 20% for LL and from 48 to 59% for RWC.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Boutin, C., Lienard, A., & Esser, D. (1997). Development of a new generation of reed-beds filters in France: First results. Water Science &. Technology, 35(5), 315–322.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bulc, T. G. (2006). Long term performance of a constructed wetland for landfill leachate treatment. Ecological Engineering, 26, 365–374.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bulc, T., Vrhovšek, D., & Kukanja, V. (1997). The use of constructed wetland for landfill leachate. Water Treatment and Technology, 35, 301–306.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Christensen, T. H., Kjeldsen, P., Bjerg, P. L, Jensen, D. L., Christensen, J. B., Baun, A., et al. (2001). Biogeochemistry of landfill leachate plumes – Review. Applied Geochemistry, 16, 659–718.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke E., & Baldwin A.H. (2002). Responses of wetland plants to ammonia and water level. Ecologcal Engineering, 18, 257–264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dong Z., & Tieheng S. (2007). A potential new process for improving nitrogen removal in constructed wetlands- Promoting coexistence of partial-nitrification and ANAMMOX. Ecological Engineering, 3, 69–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fux, C., Boehler, M., Huber, P., Brunner, I., & Siegrist, H. (2002). Biological treatment of ammonium-rich wastewater by partial nitritation and subsequent anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) in a pilot plant. Journal of Biotechnology, 99, 293–306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fux, C., Lange, K., Faesseler, A., Huber, P., Grueniger, B., & Siegrist, H. (2003). Nitrogen removal from digester supernatant via nitrite-SBR or SHARON? Water Science & Technology, 48, (8), 9–18.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fux, C., Valten, S., Carozzi, V., Solley, D., & Keller, J. (2006). Efficient and stable nitrification and denitrification of ammonium-rich sludge dewatering liquor using SBR with continuous loading. Water Research, 40, 2765–2775.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gajewska, M., & Obarska-Pempkowiak, H. (2008). The influence of return flow of reject water from sludge dewatering on WWTP operation. Chemical Industry, 5, 448–452 (in Polish).

    Google Scholar 

  • Gajewska, M., Tuszynska, A., & Obarska-Pempkowiak, H. (2004). Influence of configuration of the beds on contamination removal in hybrid constructed wetlands. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 13, 149–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hans, M., van der Roest, J., & van der Roest, H. (1997). Don’t reject the idea of treating reject water. Water Science & Technology, 35 (10), 27–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Headley T., Davison L., Huet D., & Müller R. (2009). Evapotranspiration from pilot-scale horizontal subsurface flo Phragmites australis wetlands in sub-tropical and temperate climate. In L. Kröpfelová & J. Vymazal (Eds.), Proceedings of the 7th International Workshop Nutrient Cycling and Retention in Natural and Constructed Wetlands (pp. 33–35). Treboň, Czech Republic: ENKI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jeavons, J., Stokes, L., Upton, J., & Bingley, M. (1998). Successful side stream nitrification of digested sludge liquors. Water Science & Technology, 38(3), 111–118.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johansson, S., & Westholm, L. (2003). Leachate treatment with use of SBR-technology combined with a constructed wetland system at the Isätra landfill site, Sweden. Proceedings of the 9th international waste management and landfill symposium (pp. 75–81). Cagliari, Italy: S. Margherita di Pula,.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, K. D., Martin, C. D., Moshiri, G. A., & McCrory, W. C. (1999). Performance of constructed wetland leachate treatment system at the Chunchula landfill, Mobile County, Alabama. In G. Mulamoottil, E. A. McBean & F. Rovers (Eds.), Constructed wetlands for the treatment of landfill leachate (pp. 57–70). Boca Raton, FL: CRC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kadlec, R. H. (2003). Integrated natural systems for landfill leachate treatment. In J. Vymazal (Ed.), Wetlands – nutrients, metals and mass cycling (pp. 1–33). Leiden, The Netherlands: Backhuys Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kayser, K., Kunst, S., Fehr, G., & Voermanek, H. (2001). Nitrification in reed beds-capacity and potential control methods. Water Science and Technology, 46 (6–7), 363–370.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinsley, C. B., Crolla, A. M., Kuyucak, N., Zimmer, M., & Lafléche, A. (2006). Nitrogen dynamics in a constructed wetland system treating landfill leachate. In V. Dias & J. Vymazal (Eds.), Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Wetland Systems for Water Pollution Control (pp. 295–305). Lisbon, Portugal: MAOTDR.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klimiuk, E., Kulikowska, D., & Koc-Jurczyk, J. (2007). Biological removal of organics and nitrogen from landfill leachates – A review. In M. Pawłowska & L. Pawłowski (Eds.), Management of pollutant emission from landfills and sludge (pp. 187–204). London: Taylor & Francis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laurich, F., & Gunner, C. (2003). The store and treatment process for sludge liquor management. Water Science and Technology, 47, 269–275.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lo, I. M. C. (1996). Characteristics and treatment of leachates from domestic landfills. Environment International, 22, 433–442.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maehlum, T. (1995). Treatment of landfill leachate in on-site lagoons and constructed wetlands, Water Science & Technology, 32(3), 129–135.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, C. D., Johnson, K. D., & Moshiri, G. A. (1999). Performance of constructed wetland leachate treatment system in Chunchula landfill, Mobile County, Alabama. Water Science and Technology, 40(3), 67–74.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marttinen, S. K., Kettunen, R. H. & Rintala, J. A. (2003). Occurrence and removal of organic pollutants in sewages and landfill leachates. Science of the Total Environment, 301, 1–12,

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Molle, P., Lienard, A., Boutin, C., Merlin, G., & Iwema, A. (2004). How to treat raw sewage with constructed wetlands: An overview of the French systems. In A. Lienard (Ed.), Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Wetland System for Water Pollution Control (pp. 11–20). Lyon, France: ASTEE and Cemagref.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nivala, J., Hoos, M. B., Cross, C., Wallace, S., & Parkin, G. (2007). Treatment of landfill leachate using an aerated, horizontal subsurface-flow constructed wetland. Science of the Total Environment, 380, 19–27.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nixon, P. M. (2001). Effects of landfill leachate on the biomass production of Miscanthus. Aspects of Applied Biology, 65, 123–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Obarska-Pempkowiak, H. (2002). Oczyszczalnie hydrofitowe (Constructed wetlands). Gdansk, Poland: Wydawnictwo Politechniki Gdanskiej.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paxeus, N. (2000). Organic compounds in municipal landfill leachates. Water Science & Technology, 41(7–8), 323.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peverly, J. H., Surface, J. M., & Wang, T. (1995). Growth and trace metals absorption by Phragmites australis in wetlands constructed for landfill leachate treatment. Ecological Engineering, 5, 21–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Platzer, C., & Mauch, K. (1996). Evaluations concerning soil clogging in vertical flow reed beds-mechanisms, parameters, consequences and solutions? In IWGA – Institute for Water and Provision, Water Ecology and Wast Management, Universitaet fuer Bodenkulyur Wien, Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Wetland System for Water Pollution Control (chapter IV/2-11). Vienna, Austria: Universität für Bodenkultur Wien and International Association on Water Quality.

    Google Scholar 

  • Randerson, P. F., & Slater, F. M. (2005). The role of willow plants in the treatment of iron-rich landfill leachate. In Proceedings of the 6th International of Conference on Environmental Engineering (pp. 420–424). Vilnius, Lithuania: Vilnius Gediminas Technical University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reddy, K. R., & D’Angelo, E. M. (1996). Biochemical indicator to evaluate pollutant removal efficiency in constructed wetlands. In IWGA – Institute for Water and Provision, Water Ecology and Wast Management, Universitaet fuer Bodenkulyur Wien, Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Wetland Systems for Water Pollution Control (Keynote address I, 1–21). Vienna, Austria: Universität für Bodenkultur and IWA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riddell-Black, D., Alker, G., Mainstone, C. P., & Smith S. R. (1996). Economically viable buffer zones – the case for short rotation forest plantations. In N. Haycock (Ed.), Buffer zones (pp. 103–108). Heythrop, UK: Harpenden.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, A. H. (2005). Landfill leachate treatment. Membrane Technology, 6, 6–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rustige, H., & Nolde, E. (2006). Nitrogen elimination from landfill leachates using an extra carbon source in subsurface flow constructed wetlands. In V. Dias & J. Vymazal (Eds.), Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Wetland Systems for Water Pollution Control (pp. 229–239). Lisbon, Portugal: MAOTDR.

    Google Scholar 

  • Szymkiewicz, R. (1990). Hydrology. Gdank, Poland: Gdansk University of Technology (in Polish).

    Google Scholar 

  • Tatsi, A. A., & Zoubolis, A. I. (2002). A field investigation of the quantity and quality of leachate from a municipal waste landfill in a Mediterranean climate (Thessaloniki, Greece). Advances in Environmental Research, 6, 207–219.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Urbanc-Berčič, O. (1994). Investigation into the use of constructed reed beds for municipal waste dump leachate treatment. Water Science and Technology, 29, 289–294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vymazal, J. (Ed.) (2001) Transformation of nutrients in natural and constructed wetlands. Leiden, The Netherlands: Backhuys Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wett, B., & Alex, J. (2003). Impact of separate reject water treatment on the overall plant performance. Water Science & Technology, 48(4), 139–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wojciechowska, E., & Obarska-Pempkowiak, H. (2008). Leachate treatment at a pilot plant using hydrophyte systems. In M. Pawłowska & L. Pawłowski (Eds.), Management of pollutant emission from landfills and sludge (pp. 205–210). London: Taylor & Francis.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Funding support from the EEA Financial Mechanism (PL 0085) and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education in Poland (E007/P01/2007/01) is gratefully acknowledged. The authors are indebted to SNG Saur Neptun Gdansk and ELWOZ for the permission to build pilot LL and RWC treating wetlands, and for allowing them to do research in WWTP in Gdansk and Municipal Landfill in Chlewnica.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Civil & Environmental Engineering, ul, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233, Poznaň, Poland

    Hanna Obarska-Pemkowiak, Magdalena Gajewska & Ewa Wojciechowska

  2. Faculty of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Gdansk University of Technology, Gdaňsk, Poland

    Magdalena Gajewska

Authors
  1. Hanna Obarska-Pemkowiak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Magdalena Gajewska
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ewa Wojciechowska
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Magdalena Gajewska .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. ENKI o.p.s., Dukelská 145, Trebon, 379 01, Czech Republic

    Jan Vymazal

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Obarska-Pemkowiak, H., Gajewska, M., Wojciechowska, E. (2010). Application of Vertical Flow Constructed Wetlands for Highly Contaminated Wastewater Treatment: Preliminary Results. In: Vymazal, J. (eds) Water and Nutrient Management in Natural and Constructed Wetlands. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9585-5_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation