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Nutrient removal in a trapezoidal vegetated drainage ditch used to treat primary domestic sewage in a small catchment of the upper Yangtze River
Author(s) -
Nsenga Kumwimba Mathieu,
Dzakpasu Mawuli,
Zhu Bo,
Wang Tao,
Ilunga Lunda,
Kavidia Muyembe Diana
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
water and environment journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1747-6593
pISSN - 1747-6585
DOI - 10.1111/wej.12225
Subject(s) - ditch , nutrient , hydrology (agriculture) , environmental science , sewage , drainage basin , environmental engineering , environmental chemistry , chemistry , ecology , geology , biology , geography , geotechnical engineering , cartography , organic chemistry
A trapezoidal constructed ditch (TCD) of 300 m length and 2.2 m width was designed and built in the downstream section of the upper Yangtze River for in situ treatment of primary domestic sewage. The removal efficiencies of TN, NH 4 ‐N, NO 3 ‐N, TP and PO 4 ‐P from the TCD were approximately 61, 63, 48, 58 and 51%, respectively. The concentrations of TN, NH 4 ‐N, NO 3 ‐N, TP and PO 4 ‐P showed a decreasing trend with increasing distance downstream. Plant assimilation and sediment retention were the key mechanisms for N and P removal within the TCD, with subsequent microbial uptake and transformation of the nutrients. The TCD outlet showed significantly higher dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations and lower values of electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids compared to the influent. Results of this study highlight the potential of TCD to mitigate nutrients from primary domestic sewage transported downstream and could be incorporated into local best management practices.