Impact of seasonal climate variability on constructed wetland treatment efficiency

IF 6.3 2区 工程技术 Q1 ENGINEERING, CHEMICAL Journal of water process engineering Pub Date : 2025-03-13 DOI:10.1016/j.jwpe.2025.107350
Charlotte Dykes, Jonathan Pearson, Gary Bending, Soroush Abolfathi
{"title":"Impact of seasonal climate variability on constructed wetland treatment efficiency","authors":"Charlotte Dykes,&nbsp;Jonathan Pearson,&nbsp;Gary Bending,&nbsp;Soroush Abolfathi","doi":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2025.107350","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Free-water surface constructed wetlands (CWs) are sustainable, low emission, nature-based solutions for water and wastewater treatment. However, the discharge of nutrient-rich effluents from CWs treating wastewater can adversely impact freshwater ecosystems and exacerbate eutrophication. Despite their ecological benefits, limited research exists on the treatment efficiency and pollutant dynamics of CWs under varying seasonal and environmental pressures. This study investigates the treatment efficiency of an integrated CW (ICW) serving as a nature-based solution for treating partially treated wastewater before release into the environment. Located in Ingoldisthorpe, Norfolk, near the East coast of the UK, the ICW receives 1014 ± 538 m<sup>3</sup>/day of effluent from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The system comprises four interconnected vegetated ponds (i.e. Cell) with a mean effective volume of 2697 m<sup>3</sup>, operating at an average depth of 0.19 m. Seasonal variations in vegetation density and coverage range from sparse in winter and spring to dense in summer and autumn. Bi-monthly field investigations were conducted over one year (August 2022–June 2023) to examine the impacts of inter-seasonal climate variability on the ICW's treatment performance. Removal rates of solute and solid pollutants, including nitrate (NH<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>), nitrate‑nitrogen (NH<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>N), ammonium (NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>), total nitrogen (TN) orthophosphate (PO<sub>4</sub><sup>3−</sup>), sulphate (SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup>), non-purgeable total organic carbon (NPOC), total inorganic carbon (TIC), and total solids (TS), were quantified. Significant seasonal variations were observed in Concentration Removal Rates (CRR) and Mass Removal Rates (MRR) for all nutrients. Nitrate CRRs ranged from −39.1 % to +51.64 %, corresponding to reductions of up to 14.57 mg/L and increases of 26.71 mg/L in effluent concentrations, while MMRs varied between −77.13 % to +84.25 %, reflecting changes of −38.93 kg/day to +26.69 kg/day. For phosphate, CRRs ranged from −22.79 % to +2.57 %, and MMRs ranged from −71 % to +93.22 %, equivalent to −0.57 kg/day to +0.26 kg/day. These findings highlight the dynamic and sensitive mechanisms influencing nutrient removal in CWs, driven by seasonal hydraulic conditions, vegetation phenology, and climatic factors. The study provides critical insights for optimizing CW design and management under fluctuating environmental conditions to enhance their resilience, ensure regulatory compliance, and maintain long-term treatment efficiency. This understanding is essential for guiding future regulatory policies and ensuring that CWs meet water quality standards in response to climate pressures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of water process engineering","volume":"72 ","pages":"Article 107350"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of water process engineering","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214714425004222","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ENGINEERING, CHEMICAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0

Abstract

Free-water surface constructed wetlands (CWs) are sustainable, low emission, nature-based solutions for water and wastewater treatment. However, the discharge of nutrient-rich effluents from CWs treating wastewater can adversely impact freshwater ecosystems and exacerbate eutrophication. Despite their ecological benefits, limited research exists on the treatment efficiency and pollutant dynamics of CWs under varying seasonal and environmental pressures. This study investigates the treatment efficiency of an integrated CW (ICW) serving as a nature-based solution for treating partially treated wastewater before release into the environment. Located in Ingoldisthorpe, Norfolk, near the East coast of the UK, the ICW receives 1014 ± 538 m3/day of effluent from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The system comprises four interconnected vegetated ponds (i.e. Cell) with a mean effective volume of 2697 m3, operating at an average depth of 0.19 m. Seasonal variations in vegetation density and coverage range from sparse in winter and spring to dense in summer and autumn. Bi-monthly field investigations were conducted over one year (August 2022–June 2023) to examine the impacts of inter-seasonal climate variability on the ICW's treatment performance. Removal rates of solute and solid pollutants, including nitrate (NH3), nitrate‑nitrogen (NH3N), ammonium (NH4+), total nitrogen (TN) orthophosphate (PO43−), sulphate (SO42−), non-purgeable total organic carbon (NPOC), total inorganic carbon (TIC), and total solids (TS), were quantified. Significant seasonal variations were observed in Concentration Removal Rates (CRR) and Mass Removal Rates (MRR) for all nutrients. Nitrate CRRs ranged from −39.1 % to +51.64 %, corresponding to reductions of up to 14.57 mg/L and increases of 26.71 mg/L in effluent concentrations, while MMRs varied between −77.13 % to +84.25 %, reflecting changes of −38.93 kg/day to +26.69 kg/day. For phosphate, CRRs ranged from −22.79 % to +2.57 %, and MMRs ranged from −71 % to +93.22 %, equivalent to −0.57 kg/day to +0.26 kg/day. These findings highlight the dynamic and sensitive mechanisms influencing nutrient removal in CWs, driven by seasonal hydraulic conditions, vegetation phenology, and climatic factors. The study provides critical insights for optimizing CW design and management under fluctuating environmental conditions to enhance their resilience, ensure regulatory compliance, and maintain long-term treatment efficiency. This understanding is essential for guiding future regulatory policies and ensuring that CWs meet water quality standards in response to climate pressures.

Abstract Image

查看原文
分享 分享
微信好友 朋友圈 QQ好友 复制链接
本刊更多论文
求助全文
约1分钟内获得全文 去求助
来源期刊
Journal of water process engineering
Journal of water process engineering Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology-Biotechnology
CiteScore
10.70
自引率
8.60%
发文量
846
审稿时长
24 days
期刊介绍: The Journal of Water Process Engineering aims to publish refereed, high-quality research papers with significant novelty and impact in all areas of the engineering of water and wastewater processing . Papers on advanced and novel treatment processes and technologies are particularly welcome. The Journal considers papers in areas such as nanotechnology and biotechnology applications in water, novel oxidation and separation processes, membrane processes (except those for desalination) , catalytic processes for the removal of water contaminants, sustainable processes, water reuse and recycling, water use and wastewater minimization, integrated/hybrid technology, process modeling of water treatment and novel treatment processes. Submissions on the subject of adsorbents, including standard measurements of adsorption kinetics and equilibrium will only be considered if there is a genuine case for novelty and contribution, for example highly novel, sustainable adsorbents and their use: papers on activated carbon-type materials derived from natural matter, or surfactant-modified clays and related minerals, would not fulfil this criterion. The Journal particularly welcomes contributions involving environmentally, economically and socially sustainable technology for water treatment, including those which are energy-efficient, with minimal or no chemical consumption, and capable of water recycling and reuse that minimizes the direct disposal of wastewater to the aquatic environment. Papers that describe novel ideas for solving issues related to water quality and availability are also welcome, as are those that show the transfer of techniques from other disciplines. The Journal will consider papers dealing with processes for various water matrices including drinking water (except desalination), domestic, urban and industrial wastewaters, in addition to their residues. It is expected that the journal will be of particular relevance to chemical and process engineers working in the field. The Journal welcomes Full Text papers, Short Communications, State-of-the-Art Reviews and Letters to Editors and Case Studies
期刊最新文献
High-efficiency degradation of nanofiltration concentrates using an iron-modified self-breathing electrode in electro-Fenton systems MOF-on-MOF composite material derived from ZIF-67 precursor activated by peroxymonosulfate for the removal of metronidazole Facile preparation of N/P co-doped mesoporous biochar for efficient removal of methylene blue from aqueous solutions: A 2D-FTIR-COS, adsorption mechanism analysis, and fixed-bed column study Treating contaminated water with waste: Removal of hazardous Eriochrome black T dye from water system using poultry feather waste From agro-alimentary residue to catalyst: Transforming sunflower seed husk waste into modified biochar for efficient ibuprofen degradation in water
×
引用
GB/T 7714-2015
复制
MLA
复制
APA
复制
导出至
BibTeX EndNote RefMan NoteFirst NoteExpress
×
×
提示
您的信息不完整,为了账户安全,请先补充。
现在去补充
×
提示
您因"违规操作"
具体请查看互助需知
我知道了
×
提示
现在去查看 取消
×
提示
确定
0
微信
客服QQ
Book学术公众号 扫码关注我们
反馈
×
意见反馈
请填写您的意见或建议
请填写您的手机或邮箱
已复制链接
已复制链接
快去分享给好友吧!
我知道了
×
扫码分享
扫码分享
Book学术官方微信
Book学术文献互助
Book学术文献互助群
群 号:481959085
Book学术
文献互助 智能选刊 最新文献 互助须知 联系我们:info@booksci.cn
Book学术提供免费学术资源搜索服务,方便国内外学者检索中英文文献。致力于提供最便捷和优质的服务体验。
Copyright © 2023 Book学术 All rights reserved.
ghs 京公网安备 11010802042870号 京ICP备2023020795号-1