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Modelling faecal streptococci mortality in constructed wetlands implanted with Eichhornia crassipes

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Abstract

Faecal streptococci mortality was investigated in a water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) constructed wetland pond. The wetland was 7.5 m long, 1.5 m wide and 1.0 m deep, and was implanted with E. crassipes. In order to assess the performance of the system towards bacterial mortality, a mathematical model, based on plug flow philosophy was developed. The model incorporated the role of factors, namely solar intensity, pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, sedimentation, and root attached growth. Model analysis strongly suggests that bacterial mortality rate constant was largely influenced by two factors, namely solar intensity and root biofilm attachment, with both contributing approximately 70.5% of removal. The contribution of other factors like temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and sedimentation on bacterial mortality rate were less significant. For example, dissolved oxygen, pH and sedimentation contributed 5%, 8% and 0.82%, respectively. Thus, the sedimentation factor was omitted from the model because of its insignificant contribution. The same was done for temperature, due to low ambient temperature range (3.1°C) in the study area. The overall model bacterial removal efficiency was 83%.

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Acknowledgements

The authors convey their sincere thanks to colleagues and technical staff of Water Quality Laboratory, University of Dar es Salaam, who offered their support, especially during field work and data collection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science and Human Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-Okubo, Sakura-ku, Saitama, 338-8570, Japan

    Martin Kalibbala, Takashi Asaeda & Daniel A. Shilla

  2. Faculty of Civil Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Dar es Salaam, P. O. Box 35131, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

    Aloyce W. Mayo

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  1. Martin Kalibbala
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Correspondence to Martin Kalibbala.

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Kalibbala, M., Mayo, A.W., Asaeda, T. et al. Modelling faecal streptococci mortality in constructed wetlands implanted with Eichhornia crassipes . Wetlands Ecol Manage 16, 499–510 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-008-9084-8

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