Water Science & Technology: Water Supply Vol 1 No 1 pp 89–96 © IWA Publishing 2001
Using constructed wetland systems to remove solids
from highly polluted river water
SR Jing*, YF Lin**, DY Lee*** and TW Wang****
*
Department of Environmental Engineering and Health,
Chia-Nan College of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan
**
Department of Environmental Engineering and Health,
Chia-Nan College of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan
***
Department of Environmental Engineering and Health,
Chia-Nan College of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan
****
Department of Pharmacy, Chia-Nan College of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan
ABSTRACT
The Erh-Ren River is located in southern Taiwan and is one of the most
polluted rivers in Taiwan. A pilot-scale constructed wetlands (ERRCW)
system containing a free surface flow wetland (FSF) followed by a
subsurface flow wetland (SSF) was set up to treat the polluted river
water. The system was designed to include solids removal. A removal
efficiency of suspended solids (SS) in the ERRCW system that was greater
than in a control system indicates that the existence of macrophytes in
wetlands could enhance solids removal. The results of this study also
showed that SS were removed mainly through the SSF in the ERRCW system. The
poor removal of SS, or even an increase in SS, that occurred in the FSF
was found to be caused by the growth of algae. Although the macrophytes
reduced the penetration of sunlight into the water in the FSF portion of
the ERRCW system, the residue of nutrients in water and a low flushing
rate still induced the growth of algae on some open water surfaces. From
this study, it may be concluded that the roles played by macrophytes in solids removal include providing barriers for filtration, reducing
sunlight penetration, supplying oxygen to enhance biodegradation of
organic solids, and absorbing nutrients to limit the growth of algae.
Full article (PDF Format)
PAY-PER-VIEW: Buy this article for £20.00 (IWA MEMBER PRICE: £15.00)
|
