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Performance Evaluation of Integrated Constructed Wetlands Treating Domestic Wastewater

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Abstract

The performances of a new and a mature integrated constructed wetland (ICW) system treating domestic wastewater were evaluated for the first time. The new ICW in Glaslough (near Monaghan, Ireland) comprises five wetland cells, and the mature system in Dunhill (near Waterford, Ireland) comprises four cells. The performance assessment for these systems is based on physical and chemical parameters collected for 1 year in Glaslough and 5 years in Dunhill. The removal efficiencies for the former system were relatively good if compared to the international literature: biochemical oxygen demand (BOD, 99.4%), chemical oxygen demand (COD, 97.0%), suspended solids (SS, 99.5%), ammonia nitrogen (99.0%), nitrate nitrogen (93.5%), and molybdate-reactive phosphorus (MRP, 99.2%). However, the mature ICW had removal efficiencies that decreased over time as the Dunhill village expanded rapidly. The mean removal efficiencies were as follows: BOD (95.2%), COD (89.1%), SS (97.2%), ammonia nitrogen (58.2%), nitrate nitrogen (−11.8%), and MRP (34.0%). The findings indicate that ICW are efficient in removing BOD, COD, SS, and ammonia nitrogen from domestic wastewater. Moreover, both ICW systems did not pollute the receiving surface waters and the groundwater.

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Acknowledgements

An International Post-doctoral Research Scholarship from The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey was awarded to Dr Birol Kayranli. Iller Bank (Turkey) is thanked for supporting the lead author financially. Technical support and advice by Ms. Susan Cook (Waterford County Council), Mr. Dan Doodey and Mr. Mark Johnston (both at Monaghan County Council), and Prof. Charlie Fairfield and Dr Prasad Tumula (both at Napier University Edinburgh) are acknowledged. Mr. Oliver Hofmann is thankful for the financial support received by the Edinburgh Research Partnership.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Infrastructure and Environment, School of Engineering, The University of Edinburgh, William Rankine Building, The King’s Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3JL, Scotland, UK

    Birol Kayranli, Miklas Scholz, Atif Mustafa & Oliver Hofmann

  2. School of the Built Environment, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, EH10 5DT, Scotland, UK

    Oliver Hofmann

  3. National Parks and Wildlife, Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, The Quay, Waterford, Ireland, UK

    Rory Harrington

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  1. Birol Kayranli
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  2. Miklas Scholz
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  3. Atif Mustafa
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  4. Oliver Hofmann
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  5. Rory Harrington
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Correspondence to Miklas Scholz.

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Kayranli, B., Scholz, M., Mustafa, A. et al. Performance Evaluation of Integrated Constructed Wetlands Treating Domestic Wastewater. Water Air Soil Pollut 210, 435–451 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-009-0267-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-009-0267-6

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