5 research outputs found
Effects of design and operational conditions on performance of constructed wetlands for agricultural pollution control - critical review
Constructed wetlands (CWs) can be considered as an efficient nature-based solution for treatment of agricultural drainage water (ADW) and consequently for the mitigation of the non-point source pollution. Aiming to provide suggestions for the construction and implementation of CWs, this paper proposes and discusses key parameters of CW design and operation. In order to verify the effect of these features, different case studies were reviewed, focusing on the performance of CWs that are treating agricultural drainage water. The findings showed that design and operational factors (e.g., the application of simple hydraulic structures and vegetation establishment) can improve the pollutant removal efficiencies by increasing hydraulic retention time. Hydraulic efficiency of CWs can also be enhanced through certain shape characteristics (e.g., adoption of a high aspect ratio, creation a long and narrow CW shape). The careful consideration of these parameters before and during CW implementation can therefore help these systems to achieve their full potential. However, further study is recommended to assess effects of some parameters (e.g., flow direction and the application of deep zones)
Comparison of simple models for total nitrogen removal from agricultural runoff in FWS wetlands
Free water surface (FWS) wetlands can be used to treat agricultural runoff, thereby reducing diffuse pollution. However, as these are highly dynamic systems, their design is still challenging. Complex models tend to require detailed information for calibration, which can only be obtained when the wetland is constructed. Hence simplified models are widely used for FWS wetlands design. The limitations of these models in full-scale FWS wetlands is that these systems often cope with stochastic events with different input concentrations. In our study, we compared different simple transport and degradation models for total nitrogen under steady- and unsteady-state conditions using information collected from a tracer experiment and data from two precipitation events from a full-scale FWS wetland. The tanks-in-series model proved to be robust for simulating solute transport, and the first-order degradation model with non-zero background concentration performed best for total nitrogen concentrations. However, the optimal background concentration changed from event to event. Thus, to use the model as a design tool, it is advisable to include an upper and lower background concentration to determine a range of wetland performance under different events. Models under steady- and unsteady-state conditions with simulated data showed good performance, demonstrating their potential for wetland design
Performance of lagoon and constructed wetland systems for tertiary wastewater treatment and potential of reclaimed water in agricultural irrigation
Climate change poses challenges to agricultural water resources, both in terms of quantity and quality. As an adaptation measure, the new European Regulation (EU) 2020/741 establishes different water quality classes for the use of reclaimed water in agricultural irrigation. Italy is also working on the definition of a new regulation on reclaimed water reuse for agricultural irrigation (in substitution of the current one) that will also include the specific requirements imposed by the European one. Nature-based Solutions (NBS) can be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to facilitate water reclamation and reuse. The present study reports the outcomes of a long-term monitoring campaign of two NBS (e.g., a constructed wetland (CW) and a lagoon system (LS)) comparing influent and effluent concentrations of different contaminants (e.g., E. coli, BOD5, TSS, TN and TP) with the threshold values imposed by the new regulations. The results showed that in both the case studies, E. coli (about 100 CFU 100 mL-1) and BOD5 (lower than 25 mg L-1) mean effluent concentration need to be further reduced in reclaimed water to be suitable for unlimited reuse. As a negative aspect, in both the monitored NBS, an increase in TSS mean concentration in the effluent was observed, up to 40 mg L-1 in the case of the LS, making reclaimed water unsuitable for agricultural reuse. The CW has proven to be more effective in nitrogen removal (the effluent mean concentration was 3.4 mg L-1), whereas the LS was better at phosphorus removal (with an effluent mean concentration of 0.4 mg L-1). Based on the results, recommendations were made to further improve the performance of both systems in order to have adequate water quality, even for class A. Furthermore, the capacity of reclaimed water to meet crop water and nutrient needs was analyzed, and total nitrogen removal rate coefficients were calculated for the design of future LSs
Cost-benefit of green infrastructures for water management: A sustainability assessment of full-scale constructed wetlands in Northern and Southern Italy
Sustainable water management has become an urgent challenge due to irregular
water availability patterns and water quality issues. The effect of climate
change exacerbates this phenomenon in water-scarce areas, such as the
Mediterranean region, stimulating the implementation of solutions aiming to
mitigate or improve environmental, social, and economic conditions. A novel
solution inspired by nature, technology-oriented, explored in the past years,
is constructed wetlands. Commonly applied for different types of wastewater due
to its low cost and simple maintenance, they are considered a promising
solution to remove pollutants while creating an improved ecosystem by
increasing biodiversity around them. This research aims to assess the
sustainability of two typologies of constructed wetlands in two Italian areas:
Sicily, with a vertical subsurface flow constructed wetland, and Emilia
Romagna, with a surface flow constructed wetland. The assessment is performed
by applying a cost-benefit analysis combining primary and secondary data
sources. The analysis considered the market and non-market values in both
proposed scenarios to establish the feasibility of the two options and identify
the most convenient one. Results show that both constructed wetlands bring more
benefits (benefits-cost ratio, BCR) than costs (BCR > 0). In the case of
Sicily, the BCR is lower (1) in the constructed wetland scenario, while in its
absence it is almost double. If other ecosystem services are included the
constructed wetland scenario reach a BCR of 4 and a ROI of 5, showing a better
performance from a costing perspective than the absence one. In Emilia Romagna,
the constructed wetland scenario shows a high BCR (10) and ROI (9), while the
scenario in absence has obtained a negative present value indicating that the
cost do not cover the benefits expected