Abstract
A 3-year study was conducted on an existing, one-cell, facultative sewage lagoon having a total surface area of 3.6 ha and receiving a BOD5 loading rate of 44 kglhald (40 Iblald). The comparative experimental periods ran from July through November for 3 consecutive years. During the first period, water hyacinths completely covered the lagoon. The water hyacinth coverage was reduced to 33% of the total surface area the second year. The lagoon, free of all vascular aquatic plants the third year, was monitored for comparative purposes. The most significant improvement overall in the effluent quality occurred when water hyacinths covered the entire lagoon. During this period the effluent BOD5 and TSS were 23 and 6 mgll, respectively. Without water hyacinths, the effluent BOD5 and TSS were 52 and 77 mgll, respectively. The effluent total organic carbon concentration with water hyacinths averaged 40 mgll, and without water hyacinths, 72 mgll. A discussion of the results from this 3-year study is presented in this paper along with associated problems that were observed when water hyacinths were introduced into the lagoon and altered its behavior from that of a normal facultative lagoon.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
American Public Health Association. 1975. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. 14th ed.
Boyd, C. E. 1970. Vascular aquatic plants for mineral nutrient removal from polluted waters. Econ. Bot. 24: 95–103.
Chow, V. T., ed. 1964. Handbook of Applied Hydrology. McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York.
Cornwell, D. A., J. Zoltek, Jr., C. D. Patrinely, T. de S. Furman, and J. I. Kim. 1977. Nutrient removal by water hyacinths. J. Water Pollut. Control Fed. 49: 57–65.
Dinges, R. 1978. Upgrading stabilization pond effluent by water hyacinth culture. J. Water Pollut. Control Fed. 50: 833–845.
Dunigan, E. P., R. A. Phelan, and Z. H. Shamsuddin. 1975. Use of water hyacinths to remove nitrogen and phosphorus from eutrophic waters. Hyacinth Control J. 13: 59–61.
Gloyna, E. F. 1971. Waste Stabilization Ponds. World Health Organization, Geneva.
Ornes, W. H., and D. L. Sutton. 1975. Removal of phosphorus from static sewage effluent by water hyacinth. Hyacinth Control J. 13: 56–58.
Penfound, W. T., and T. T. Earle. 1948. The biology of the water hyacinth. Ecol. Monogr. 18: 450–472.
Pieterse, A. H. 1978. The water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)—a review. Abstracts Trop. Agric. 4: 9–42.
Rogers, H. H., and D. E. Davis. 1972. Nutrient removal by water hyacinth. Weed Sci. 20: 423–428.
Sheffield, C. W. 1967. Water hyacinth for nutrient removal. Hyacinth Control J. 6: 27–30.
Steward, K. K. 1970. Nutrient removal potentials of various aquatic plants. Hyacinth Control J. 8: 34–35.
Timmer, C. E., and L. W. Weldon. 1967. Evapotranspiration and pollution of water by water hyacinth. Hyacinth Control J. 6:34–37.
Westlake, D. F. 1963. Comparisons of plant productivity. Biol. Rev. 38: 385–425.
Wolverton, B. C., and R. C. McDonald. 1976. Water hyacinths for upgrading sewage lagoons to meet advanced wastewater standards: part II. NASA Technical Memorandum TM-X-72730.
- and -. 1978. Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) productivity and harvesting studies. NASA/ERL Report No. 171.
—. 1979a. The water hyacinth: from prolific pest to potential provider. Ambio 8: 2–9.
—. 1979b. Upgrading facultative wastewater lagoons with vascular aquatic plants. J. Water Pollut. Control Fed. 51: 305–313.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mcdonald, R.C., Wolverton, B.C. Comparative Study of Wastewater Lagoon with and without Water Hyacinth. Econ Bot 34, 101–110 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02858625
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02858625