Guía didáctica sobre diseño de humedales artificiales

En los últimos años se ha observado un creciente interés por parte de los estudiantes de diversas ingenierías (civil, ambiental, industrial...) en desarrollar sus Trabajos Finales de Grado (TFG) o de Máster (TFM) en el ámbito de las tecnologías ambientales basadas en la naturaleza (NBS, por sus siglas en inglés). Entre ellas, el diseño de humedales artificiales es uno de los temas más habituales. Los humedales artificiales son sistemas de tratamiento que se pueden emplear para depurar distintos tipos de aguas residuales o contaminadas. En esta guía se recogen los principales criterios de diseño, recomendados en manuales internacionales y nacionales, realizando un énfasis especial en el porqué de éstos. La explicación de los criterios de diseño viene acompañada de ejercicios y ejemplos, para ayudar al lector a lograr una mejor comprensión.Hernández Crespo, C.; Martín Monerris, M. (2023). Guía didáctica sobre diseño de humedales artificiales. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/REA.2023.665301Recursos Educativos Abiertos edUP

Water Quantity and Quality Models Applied to the Jucar River Basin, Spain

“The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1007/s11269-010-9578-z ”.Traditionally, water quality modelling has focused on modelling individual water bodies. However, water quality management problems must be analyzed at the basin scale. European Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires introducing physical, chemical and biological aspects into the management of water resources systems. Water quality modelling at a basin scale presents the advantage of incorporating in a dynamic way the relationships between the different elements and water bodies. Currently, there are few tools to deal with water modelling of water quality and management at the basin scale. This paper presents the development of a water quantity model and a water quality model for a very complex water resources system: the JA(0)car River Basin (Spain). The basin is characterized by a high degree of use of the water and by many water problems related to point and diffuse pollution, on top of a complex water quantity management of the basin. To deal with this problem, SIMGES (water allocation) and GESCAL (water quality) basin scale models have been used. Both are part of the Decision Support System AQUATOOL, one of the main instruments used in Spain in order to analyze water quantity and quality aspects of water resources systems for the compliance with WFD, as shown for the case of study.This study was supported by funds from Jucar River Basin Agency (Spanish Ministry of Environment), from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Culture (project "Desarrollo de elementos de un sistema soporte de decision para la gestion de recursos hidricos", HID1999-0656), and from the European Union (project "SEDEMED-Secheresse et Desertification dans les bassins mediterranees", ref. 2002-024.4-1084).Paredes Arquiola, J.; Andreu Álvarez, J.; Martín Monerris, M.; Solera Solera, A. (2010). Water Quantity and Quality Models Applied to the Jucar River Basin, Spain. Water Resources Management. 24(11):2759-2779. doi:10.1007/s11269-010-9578-zS275927792411Andreu J, Capilla J (1993) Optimization and simulation models applied to the Segura water resources system. In: Marco J, Harboe R, Salas JD (eds) Stochastic hydrology in water resources systems: simulation and optimization. Kluwer, DordrechtAndreu J, Capilla J, Ferrer J (1992) Modelo Simges de simulación de la gestión de esquemas de recursos hídricos, incluyendo utilización conjunta. Serv. Publ. UPV, ValenciaAndreu J, Capilla J, Sanchis E (1996) AQUATOOL: a generalized decision support-system for water-resources planning and operational management. J Hydrol 177:269–291Andreu J, Solera A, Paredes J, Pérez MA, Pulido M (2008) Decision support tools for policy making in European Water Research Day (Zaragoza). European CommunitiesArnold U, Orlob GT (1989) Decision support for estuarine water quality management. J Water Resour Plan Manage, ASCE 115(6):775–792Bhakdisongkhram T, Koottated S, Towprayoon S (2007) A water model for water and environmental management at Mae Moh area in Thailand. Water Resour Manag 21:1535–1552CHJ (1998) Plan Hidrológico de la Cuenca del Júcar. Confederación Hidrográfica del Júcar. Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Spainde Azevedo LGT, Gates TK, Fontane DG, Labadie JW, Porto RL (2000) Integration of water quantity and quality in strategic river basin planning. J Water Resour Plan Manage ASCE 126(2):85–97EC (2000) Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 23 October 2000, establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy. Official Journal of the European Commission, L 327/1, 22.12.2000Edinger JE, Geyer JC (1965) Heat exchange in the environment. Department of Sanitary engineering and Water resources, Research Project No. 49. John Hopkins University, BaltimoreFord CR, Fulkerson DR (1962) Flow in networks. Princeton University Press, Princeton, p 194Huang GH, Xia J (2001) Barriers to sustainable water-quality management. J Environ Manag 61(1):1–23Koch H, Grünewald U (2009) A comparison of modelling systems for the development and revision of water resources management plans. Water Resour Manag 23:1403–1422Kotti ME, Vlessidis AG, Thanasoulias NC, Evmiridis NP (2005) Assessment of river water quality in Northwestern Greece. Water Resour Manag 19(1):77–94Letcher R, Croke B, Jakeman A (2007) Integrated assessment modelling for water resources allocation and management: a generalised conceptual framework. Environ Model Softw 22(5):733–742. doi: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2005.12.014Loucks DP, van Beek E (2005) Water resources systems planning and management—an introduction to methods, models and applications. UNESCO, ParisParedes J, Lund J (2006) Refill and drawdown rules for parallel reservoirs: quantity and quality. Water Resour Manag 20:359–376Paredes J, Andreu J, Solera A (2007) Manual del programa Gescal de la simulación de la calidad del agua. Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, ValenciaQin XS, Huang GH (2009) An inexact change-constrained quadratic programming model for stream water quality management. Water Resour Manag 23:661–695Strzepek K, García L, Over T (1989) MITSIM 2.1 river basin simulation model, user manual. Center for Advanced Decision Support for Water and Environmental Systems, University of Colorado, Bouldervan Gils JAG, Argiropoulos D (2004) Axios river basin water quality management. Water Resour Manag 5(3–4):271–280Zhang W, Wang Y, Peng H, Li Y, Tang J, Wu B (2009) A coupled water quantity–quality model for water allocation analysis. Water Resour Manag. doi: 10.1007/s11269-009-9456-

Biokinetic model for nitrogen removal in free water surface constructed wetlands

[EN] In this article, a mechanistic biokinetic model for nitrogen removal in free water surface constructed wetlands treating eutrophic water was developed, including organic matter performance due to its importance in nitrogen removal by denitrification. Ten components and fourteen processes were introduced in order to simulate the forms of nitrogen and organic matter, the mechanisms of autotrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms in both aerobic and anoxic conditions, as well as macrophytes nitrogen uptake and release. Dissolved oxygen was introduced as an input variable with a time step of 0.5 days for mimicking eutrophic environments: aerobic conditions were assigned during daylight hours and anoxic conditions during the night. The sensitivity analysis showed that the most influential parameters were those related to the growth of heterotrophic and autotrophic microorganisms. The model was properly calibrated and validated in two full scale systems working in real conditions for treating eutrophic water from Lake L'Albufera (Valencia). In the studied systems, ammonium was mainly removed by the growth of autotrophic microorganisms (nitrification) whereas nitrate was removed by the anoxic growth of heterotrophic microorganisms (denitrification). Macrophyte uptake removed between 9 and 19% of the ammonium entering to the systems, although degradation of dead standing macrophytes returned a significant part to water column.We would like to acknowledge the support of Confederation Hidrografica del Jucar (CHJ, MMARM) and the staff members in Tancat de la Pipa. We also acknowledge the anonymous reviewers and the editor for their valuable comments to improve this paper.Gargallo Bellés, S.; Martín Monerris, M.; Oliver Rajadel, N.; Hernández Crespo, C. (2017). Biokinetic model for nitrogen removal in free water surface constructed wetlands. The Science of The Total Environment. 587:145-156. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.02.089S14515658

Sedimentation and resuspension modelling in free water surface constructed wetlands

[EN] Eutrophication is a widespread problem that is being tackled from many perspectives and the recently applied technology of constructed wetlands is being used in the treatment of eutrophic water. However, process-based models to simulate their performance are scarce, so in this work a mechanistic model was developed to simulate the removal of total suspended solids, phytoplankton and total phosphorus in free water surface constructed wetlands treating eutrophic water. The model represents the influence of the main factors of the biotope and biota on these water quality variables, and particular attention is paid to resuspension produced by wind and by avifauna. Likewise, the effect of emergent vegetation cover in sedimentation, resuspension and phytoplankton growth is included. Phytoplankton is considered to store phosphorus internally in order to use it when growing, and the contribution of phytoplankton concentration to the suspended solids budget is included. The software AQUASIM was used to calibrate and validate the model in two full-scale constructed wetlands treating eutrophic water from Lake l'Albufera de Valencia (Spain) for three years. The simulated data and field measurements showed satisfactory adjustments for the three studied variables. The budgets obtained for each variable reveal that sedimentation and resuspension are the main processes in total suspended solids performance. Sedimentation of organic particulate phosphorus is the most important process in total phosphorus removal. The sum of the effect of resuspension by avifauna and by wind increases by more than 50% the quantity of solids that enters the water column. The model reveals that simulating the effects of the emergent vegetation cover and resuspension is crucial for representing the performance of the studied variables. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.We would like to strongly thank to Pablo Vera (SEO/BirdLife ) for him collaboration with waterfowl monitoring and data analysis and to Maria Antonia Rodrigo and Matilde Segura (ICBiBE, Universitat de València) for collecting Chl a data. We would also like acknowledge the support of Confederación Hidrográfica de Júcar (CHJ, MMARM) and the staff members in Tancat de la Pipa.Gargallo Bellés, S.; Martín Monerris, M.; Oliver Rajadel, N.; Hernández Crespo, C. (2016). Sedimentation and resuspension modelling in free water surface constructed wetlands. Ecological Engineering. 98:318-329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.09.014S3183299

Numerical simulation of vertical flow wetlands with special emphasis on treatment performance during winter

[EN] In Austria, single-stage vertical flow (VF) wetlands with intermittent loading are a state-of-the-art technology for treating domestic wastewater. They are designed according to the Austrian design standard with a specific surface area of 4 m(2) per person (i.e. 20 g COD/(m(2).d)) and thus demand a bigger amount of land to treat the same amount of wastewater compared to intensified technical treatment systems. In order to reduce the amount of land needed, a modified design for VF wetlands has been proposed. The modified design has a specific surface area of 2.5 m(2) per person (i.e. 32 g COD/(m(2).d)) and it has been shown to be able to meet the Austrian effluent requirements. To allow higher organic loading, more loadings per day but lower volume of a single loading, a constant loading interval, and increased number of openings per m(2) are applied. A simulation study using the HYDRUS Wetland Module was carried out to compare the treatment efficiencies of single-stage VF wetlands with classical and modified design. Data from a classical Austrian single-stage VF wetland was used for calibration of the model using the standard parameter set for the CW2D biokinetic model. The influent COD fractionation was calibrated to adapt to the wastewater. The simulations showed a good performance of the modified design compared to a classical VF wetland for COD removal with COD effluent concentrations in winter (effluent water temperature of 4.5 degrees C) of 35 and 29 mg/L, respectively. The simulation study showed that during high-loading events the VF wetland with modified design has lower maximum NH4-N effluent concentrations. Single-stage VF wetlands with modified design seem to be very effective and allow application of higher organic loads compared to single-stage VF wetlands with classical design.The stay of Alba Canet Marti in Vienna was funded by an ERASMUS+ scholarship. The authors are grateful for the support.Canet, A.; Pucher, B.; Hernández Crespo, C.; Martín Monerris, M.; Langergraber, G. (2018). Numerical simulation of vertical flow wetlands with special emphasis on treatment performance during winter. Water Science & Technology. 78(9):2019-2026. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2018.479S2019202678

The role of different sustainable urban drainage systems in removing microplastics from urban runoff: A review

[EN] Urban runoff is considered an important source of microplastic pollution. This review provides an in-depth analysis of studies that assess the role of sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) as nature-based solutions, to tackle this worldwide problem. Sedimentation-based systems, such as wetlands or ponds, and filtrationbased systems, such as bioretention cells or gardens, as well as permeable pavements have been shown to effectively retain a significant number of MPs. Nevertheless, it is considered that efficiencies can be enhanced through some design improvements, proposed in this review. Polypropylene, Polyethylene terephthalate, Polyethylene and Polystyrene, are the most frequent and abundant polymers in urban runoff, due to high consumption in a wide variety of urban products and activities. Smaller particles and fibers are the most challenging fraction. Maximum rainfall intensity, antecedent dry days, rainfall depth, land use, dwelling density, imperviousness, hydraulic loading, SUDS age, and the presence of forebays or gross pollutant traps have been influential variables on the abundance of MPs in some of the studies, although not always statistically significant. The assessment of the fate of MPs by some studies indicates that they are more concentrated in the sediment or filter media near the inlet, as well as in the shallower layers. The existence of a similar behaviour and a correlation between total suspended solids and microplastic concentration, makes them a potential indicator of microplastic pollution. A wide variability of microplastic detection methods and reporting data format has been found, which makes it difficult to draw global conclusions. Measures to reduce microplastic pollution in urban areas and subjects for further research are finally suggested.This research has been developed within the ENGODRAIN (Ref. RTI2018-094217-B-C31) and SUDSLong-VLC (Ref. PID2021-122946OB-C32) projects, both funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/and "ERDF Away of making Europe". Eduardo Garcia-Haba appreciates the pre-doctoral grant Ref. PRE2019-089409 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by "ESF Investing in your future".García-Haba, E.; Hernández Crespo, C.; Martín Monerris, M.; Andrés-Doménech, I. (2023). The role of different sustainable urban drainage systems in removing microplastics from urban runoff: A review. Journal of Cleaner Production. 411:1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.13719711341

Influence of rainfall intensity and pollution build-up levels on water quality and quantity response of permeable pavements

[EN] Permeable pavements are part of stormwater management practices known as sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS). This study describes the influence of several environmental variables, such as the rainfall regime or the pollution build-up level, on the hydraulic and water quality performance of permeable pavements. Four infiltrometers with different configurations of pavement layers were used to study the influence of two rainfall regimes (Atlantic and Mediterranean) and two rainfall intensities (0.5 and 2.2 nn/min). The influence of the progressive pollution build-up level was studied by dry sprinkling of road deposited sediments collected with a mechanical street sweeper with a dose of 5 g/m(2)/d. The results show that permeable pavements retained a significant rainwater volume and improved the infiltrated water quality in terms of suspended solids, organic matter and nutrients when compared to the corresponding surface runoff potentially generated from an impervious pavement. The volume of rainwater retained inside them varied between 16 and 66% depending on the variables studied. The water infiltrated from permeable pavements subjected to a Mediterranean rainfall regime contained, in general, higher concentrations of organic matter (22 to 89 mg Chemical Oxygen Demand/l) and nutrients (0.6 to 2.1 mg Total Nitrogen/l and 0.05 to 045 mg Total Phosphorus/l) than those under Atlantic regime. However, the latter infiltrated higher loadings in terms of mass. Nitrogen was the substance that infiltrated the most, reaching a 25% of the total mass of nitrogen deposited on the pavements surface. The concentration and mass loading in infiltrated water increased as the pollution build-up level did. The leachability of nutrients and organic matter was greater for high rainfall intensities. The results suggest that it is essential to carry out an adequate cleaning in dry conditions, especially when high intensity rainfall events are foreseen, because of its greater capacity to mobilize pollutants.This research was funded through the SUPRIS-SUPeI (Ref. BIA201565240-C2-2-R MINECO/ERDF, UE), financed by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Miriam Fernandez-Gonzalvo has a pre-doctoral contract funded by Generalitat Valenciana within the framework of the Program for the promotion of scientific research, technological development and innovation in the Valencian Community (ACIF/2018/111-FSECV 2014-2020). Authors would like to thank the manufacturer QUADRO for yielding paving stones and information on their composition for the research.Hernández Crespo, C.; Fernández-Gonzalvo, MI.; Martín Monerris, M.; Andrés Doménech, I. (2019). Influence of rainfall intensity and pollution build-up levels on water quality and quantity response of permeable pavements. The Science of The Total Environment. 2019(684):303-313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.271S303313201968

Aplicación de metodologías activas para mejora del aprendizaje y desarrollo de competencias transversales. Experiencia en una asignatura de calidad de aguas de máster universitario

[EN] Integration in the European Higher Education Area requires the implementation of active learning methodologies that focus on the student and promote the development of transversal competences. In the present study the experience carried out in a subject of University Master is exposed. The active methodologies applied are the resolution of practical cases and the field visit where various activities are carried out to recognize in situ the knowledge acquired in the classroom. The results of a specific survey completed by the students at the end of the course are very positive, indicating a good acceptance of the applied methodologies. The grades obtained by the students in the evaluation activities also show that the learning has been deep and that different transversal competences have been adequately worked.[ES] La integración en el Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior requiere la implementación de metodologías activas de aprendizje, que centren el protagonismo en el alumno y fomenten el desarrollo de competencias transversales. En el presente estudio se expone la experiencia llevada a cabo en una asignatura de Máster Universitario. Las metodologías activas aplicadas son la resolución de casos prácticos y la visita de campo durante la que se realizan diversas actividades para reconocer in situ los conocimientos adquiridos en el aula. Los resultados de una encuesta específica cumplimentada por los estudiantes al finalizar el curso son muy positivos, indicando una buena aceptación de las metodologías aplicadas. Las calificaciones obtenidas por los alumnos en las actividades de evaluación también muestran que el aprendizaje ha sido profundo y que se han trabajado adecuadamente diversas competencias transversales.Hernández Crespo, C.; Martín Monerris, M.; Paredes Arquiola, J. (2017). Aplicación de metodologías activas para mejora del aprendizaje y desarrollo de competencias transversales. Experiencia en una asignatura de calidad de aguas de máster universitario. En In-Red 2017. III Congreso Nacional de innovación educativa y de docencia en red. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 897-904. https://doi.org/10.4995/INRED2017.2017.6813OCS89790

Contribution of green roofs to urban arthropod biodiversity in a Mediterranean climate: A case study in València, Spain

[EN] Studies on biodiversity on green roofs have been carried out in parallel to the degree to which these infrastructures have been implemented in different countries. There are no studies about biodiversity of fauna in these habitats in Spain and other countries of Mediterranean Europe, except France. This study compares the arthropod community of a green roof to that of a conventional flat roof with gravel covering and two ground-level gardens, in a geographical area where the territory is a matrix of urban and agricultural lands. The interest of the results is twofold: no such work is available in this Mediterranean region, and the stressful environmental conditions. No significant differences appeared for relative abundance, taxa richness, Shannon Index, and effective number of taxa between the studied habitats. However in taxa composition and abundance terms, the arthropod community on green roofs differed significantly from that of ground-level gardens, and exclusive species were captured in both habitats. The relative abundance of the different functional groups captured showed different seasonal patterns in ground level gardens and green roof. Our results also confirm that green roofs significantly increase biodiversity compared to conventional roofs. Thus, in the climate conditions of Mediterranean region, our study suggests that green roofs may also be suitable solutions to increase and improve the arthropods biodiversity in urban areas.This research has been developed within the ENGODRAIN project framework (Ref. RTI2018-094217-B-C31) funded by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (MICIN)/Agencia Estatal de Investigacion (AEI), Spain, through the General State Budgets and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).Benedito Durá, V.; Meseguer-Cervera, E.; Hernández Crespo, C.; Martín Monerris, M.; Andrés-Doménech, I.; Rodrigo Santamalia, ME. (2023). Contribution of green roofs to urban arthropod biodiversity in a Mediterranean climate: A case study in València, Spain. Building and Environment. 228:1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.10986511022

Quantifying the Impact on Stormwater Management of an Innovative Ceramic Permeable Pavement Solution

[EN] Stormwater management in cities has traditionally been based on centralized systems, evacuating runoff as quickly as possible through drainage networks that collect and convey the runoff to the final point of treatment or the receiving water body. In recent years, a different approach focused on the use of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) represents a paradigm shift, promoting a decentralized management as close to the runoff source as possible. Among these techniques, permeable pavements represent an effective solution for reducing runoff and providing pollutant treatment. This contribution describes the results obtained from an innovative ceramic permeable pavement developed as part of the LIFE CERSUDS project in the city of Benicassim (Spain). This pavement, composed by modules built from ceramic tiles in stock, allows water infiltration, runoff treatment and water reuse as part of a SUDS built in 2018 and monitored from September 2018 to September 2019. The purpose of the research was to demonstrate the hydraulic performance of the proposed solution through monitoring of runoff quantity and quality variables. Monitoring data analysis have shown positive results, reducing peak runoff rates and the volume of water which is conducted downstream. From the hydrological point of view, the system capacity shown a 100% runoff management for events up to 15-25 mm of precipitation. This is a very significant threshold since these values represent, respectively, the 81% and 91% percentiles for the study area. System performance was confirmed in terms of runoff management and water infiltration. This demonstration case study represents a reference example of urban retrofitting actions which integrate social, economic and environmental aspects.This research was developed within the LIFE CERSUDS project and was financed by the LIFE Programme 2014-2020 of the European Union for the Environment and Climate Action [Reference LIFE15 CCA/ES/000091] with the collaboration of the Generalitat Valenciana through IVACE.Castillo-Rodríguez, JT.; Andrés Doménech, I.; Martín Monerris, M.; Escuder Bueno, I.; Perales-Momparler, S.; Mira-Peidro, J. (2021). Quantifying the Impact on Stormwater Management of an Innovative Ceramic Permeable Pavement Solution. Water Resources Management. 35(4):1251-1271. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-021-02778-7S1251127135