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Seasonal Performance of an Outdoor Constructed Wetland for Graywater Treatment in a Temperate Climate
Author(s) -
Jokerst Adam,
Sharvelle Sybil E.,
Hollowed Margaret E.,
Roesner Larry A.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143011x12989211841412
Subject(s) - environmental science , greywater , water quality , wetland , temperate climate , constructed wetland , biochemical oxygen demand , hydrology (agriculture) , total suspended solids , nutrient , phosphorus , suspended solids , environmental engineering , chemical oxygen demand , environmental chemistry , sewage treatment , wastewater , ecology , chemistry , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , engineering , biology
The seasonal treatment efficiency of a pilot‐scale constructed wetland system located outdoors in a semi‐arid, temperate climate was evaluated for graywater in a comprehensive, 1‐year study. The system consisted of two wetland beds in series—a free water surface bed followed by a subsurface flow bed. Water quality monitoring evaluated organics, solids, nutrients, microbials, and surfactants. The results showed that the wetland substantially reduced graywater constituents during fall, spring, and summer, including biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) (92%), total nitrogen (85%), total phosphorus (78%), total suspended solids (TSS) (73%), linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) surfactants (94%), and E. coli (1.7 orders of magnitude). Except for TSS, lower removals of graywater constituents were noted in winter—BOD (78%), total nitrogen (64%), total phosphorus (65%), LAS (87%), and E. coli (1.0 order), indicating that, although wetland treatment slowed during the winter, the system remained active, even when the average water temperature was 5.2 ± 4.5°C.