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Effect of operational and design parameters on performance of pilot-scale horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands treating university campus wastewater

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Abstract

Three horizontal subsurface flow (HSF) pilot-scale constructed wetland (CW) units operated for 3 years treating municipal wastewater originating from a university campus. The main objective of the study was the evaluation of the performance of these systems under several operational, design, and climatic conditions. Several parameters and factors were investigated, including the influence of temperature, vegetation, and hydraulic residence time. The results were compared to those of a previous study conducted in the same pilot-scale units and under the same operational conditions where synthetic municipal wastewater was used. Results show the satisfying overall performance of the CW units. Performance seems to be influenced by vegetation, temperature, and hydraulic residence time (HRT). The planted units produced better results than the unplanted one while, generally, all units operated better under warmer conditions. In addition, longer HRTs contributed to higher removal efficiencies. Finally, the systems showed higher removal efficiencies in the previous study (synthetic wastewater) regarding organic matter removal, while for the other pollutants, the present study (real wastewater) showed higher or comparable performance in most cases and especially in the planted units. The study also shows the overall good, continuous, and long-term operation of CW systems, since these systems operate for about 13 years.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Ecological Engineering and Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, 67100, Xanthi, Greece

    Vassiliki Papaevangelou & Georgios D. Gikas

  2. Centre for the Assessment of Natural Hazards and Proactive Planning and Laboratory of Reclamation Works and Water Resources Management, Department of Infrastructure and Rural Development, School of Rural and Surveying Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Iroon Polytechniou St., 157 80, Zografou, Athens, Greece

    Vassilios A. Tsihrintzis

Authors
  1. Vassiliki Papaevangelou
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  2. Georgios D. Gikas
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  3. Vassilios A. Tsihrintzis
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Correspondence to Georgios D. Gikas.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Papaevangelou, V., Gikas, G.D. & Tsihrintzis, V.A. Effect of operational and design parameters on performance of pilot-scale horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands treating university campus wastewater. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 19504–19519 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7162-7

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