Effective Removal of Biogenic Substances Using Natural Treatment Systems for Wastewater for Safer Water Reuse

Natural Treatment Systems for Wastewater (NTSW) show great potential for economic, socially acceptable and environmentally friendly wastewater treatment, along with the renewal of water for its safe reuse. This article presents the reduction in nitrogen and phosphorus compounds in domestic wastewater, which was achieved in a 2.5-year operation of the newly developed NTSW. The presented installation was developed by the Institute of Applied Ecology in Skórzyn (Poland) and implemented as a pilot plant serving the institute building with three permanent residents and up to five employees. The installation consisted of two parts, responsible for: wastewater treatment (septic tank and compost beds) and water renewal (denitrification beds, phosphorus beds and activated carbon beds). The mean values of nitrogen and phosphorus compound concentrations obtained in the renewed water for the entire research period were: 0.8, 49.4, 12 and 3.1 mg/L for ammonium nitrogen (NH4), nitrates (NO3), total nitrogen and phosphates (PO4), respectively. Thus, average reductions of 99.6%, 90.9% and 94.4% were obtained for NH4, total nitrogen and PO4, respectively. Treatment of domestic sewage to such a level, similar to drinking water, enables versatile, safe water reuse, which in the situation of increasingly limited water resources will constitute increasing ecological and economic value

Advanced Biological Oxidation of Domestic Sewage with the Use of Compost Beds in a Natural Treatment System for Wastewater

Due to the progressing problems with ensuring sufficient quantity and quality of water for municipal, irrigation and economic purposes, the pressure to reuse treated wastewater is increasing. This fact forces the development of advanced systems enabling more effective wastewater treatment. This article presents the results of a 2.5-year study period in which compost beds, which are part of a natural treatment system for wastewater (NTSW), were used to treat domestic sewage by fully removing easily degradable organic matter and by fully nitrifying ammonium nitrogen. It was shown that the compost environment provides complete access to oxygen for the coexisting heterotrophic and autotrophic bacteria, covering 100% of their oxygen demand. Moreover, the outflow of treated wastewater shows an oxygen content of 4–7 g O2/m3. Advanced biological oxidation occurring in the compost beds with an area of 1 m2 per inhabitant and a daily hydraulic load of about 100 L/m2 can effectively and without additional energy expenditure provide a 98% reduction in biological oxygen demand and a 99.5% reduction in ammonium nitrogen. In addition, the effluent from the compost filters meets the most stringent quality criteria for (1) treated wastewater used for irrigation and (2) bathing water in terms of microbiological contamination

Changes in arable land use in Siberia in the 20th century and their effect on soil degradation

The paper presents issues related to soil degradation in Siberia caused by wind and water erosion, as the effects of changes in the Siberian agriculture in the 20th century. In order to understand the mechanism of changes in land management and their effects, i.e. the rate of erosion in the previous century, the article presents the development of agriculture from prehistoric times to the end of the 20th century. The paper presents the consequences of soil degradation, i.e. loss of surface layers of soil, humic compounds and biogenic compounds, such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The range of erosion is also determined. The paper discusses the causes of the 20th century’s soil degradation, mainly by wind and water erosion; the actual range of erosion in agricultural areas; the importance of erosion effects on the environment and the economy of Siberia. There is reference also to conditions in the European continent as such. There is a need for changes that would stop this negative process. The paper notes some positive changes that have occurred in some Siberian regions, which provide a chance to limit or even eliminate the effects of erosive soil degradation

Changes in arable land use in Siberia in the 20th century and their effect on soil degradation

The paper presents issues related to soil degradation in Siberia caused by wind and water erosion, as the effects of changes in the Siberian agriculture in the 20th century. In order to understand the mechanism of changes in land management and their effects, i.e. the rate of erosion in the previous century, the article presents the development of agriculture from prehistoric times to the end of the 20th century. The paper presents the consequences of soil degradation, i.e. loss of surface layers of soil, humic compounds and biogenic compounds, such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The range of erosion is also determined. The paper discusses the causes of the 20th century’s soil degradation, mainly by wind and water erosion; the actual range of erosion in agricultural areas; the importance of erosion effects on the environment and the economy of Siberia. There is reference also to conditions in the European continent as such. There is a need for changes that would stop this negative process. The paper notes some positive changes that have occurred in some Siberian regions, which provide a chance to limit or even eliminate the effects of erosive soil degradation

Assessment of physical properties and pH of selected surface waters in the northern part of Western Siberia

One of the undisputed natural resources of Western Siberia is a countless number of surface waters. They can be found in the form of all sorts of lakes from the smallest thermokarst ones with a surface area of only 1 m2 to large post-glacial lakes or high-mountain lakes. Besides, the world’s largest wetland is the peat bogs in the Western Siberia. Other equally impressive forms of surface waters are streams and rivers with the Ob River at the head making it the seventh largest river in the world. All these water bodies pose a tremendous challenge for research into their ecology

Assessment of physical properties and pH of selected surface waters in the northern part of Western Siberia

One of the undisputed natural resources of Western Siberia is a countless number of surface waters. They can be found in the form of all sorts of lakes from the smallest thermokarst ones with a surface area of only 1 m2 to large post-glacial lakes or high-mountain lakes. Besides, the world’s largest wetland is the peat bogs in the Western Siberia. Other equally impressive forms of surface waters are streams and rivers with the Ob River at the head making it the seventh largest river in the world. All these water bodies pose a tremendous challenge for research into their ecology