CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS FOR MINEWATER TREATMENT: PERFORMANCE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Wetlands were constructed between 1995 and 1999 to treat discharges from abandoned coalmines in the Pelenna Valley, South Wales. This was one of the first and most comprehensive demonstrations of passive minewater treatment technology in Europe, incorporating aerobic and anaerobic cells, including 'reducing and alkalinity-producing systems. The wetlands were monitored to assess their performance and longevity and were found to remove 82-96% of the incoming iron, with no decline in treatment performance over the monitoring period to 2002. Oxidation was found to be the dominant iron-removal process, even in vertical-flow cells which were designed to utilise anaerobic processes. Factors limiting the longevity of iron-removal processes were identified. maintenance requirements were highlighted and life-span predictions were calculated for the systems. The wetlands were shown to be an effective and low maintenance (but not maintenance-free) method of treating net-acidic and net-alkaline minewater.     

State-of-the-art management models for lakes and reservoirs

This paper reviews current models that can be used in lake management, mainly for eutrophication and wetland areas. The latter type of model, in particular, has developed rapidly during the past decade due to the increasing importance of wetlands as traps for nutrients originating from non-point sources. The experience gained in lake modelling since the mid-1980s can be summarized as follows: (i) 3-D hydrodynamic models are available today but are not necessarily the right answer to a given modelling problem (dependent on data availability); (ii) models with a wide spectrum of complexities are available which make it possible to select a type of model appropriate to available data; and (iii) several models with general applicability are available, yet it is necessary to tailor a model for each individual case (generally based on experience from previous model studies). The experience gained by the use of the so-called Glumsø model on 25 case studies led to the same conclusion: modifications are needed in the original model for each new case study to allow for the specific characteristics of the lake modelled. Lake management models have been developed for eutrophication, oxygen depletion, various specific pollution problems, thermocline formation, acidification, and the use of wetlands to cope with non-point pollution, particularly for removal of nitrogen by denitrification. An overview of available models, including their shortcomings, is given in the text. We have experience in using models for many different environmental problems of lakes, but it is necessary to improve these models by including more ecological components. These improvements are discussed in relation to the most recent experiences in the use of models with dynamic structures.     

Enhancing nitrification in vertical flow constructed wetland utilizing a passive air pump

Nitrification of simulated secondary effluent solution using a variant of the vertical flow bed constructed wetland was studied. In this system oxygen required for the nitrification process is supplied by a passive air pump. The passive air pump is based on a fill and draw cycle, where oxygen depleted air is removed from the system while fresh air is introduced. Each volume of effluent drained is displaced by an equal volume of fresh air. Spatial and temporal oxygen distribution in the system as a function of drained effluent volume was investigated. Experimental results of nitrification and the corresponding oxygen consumption show good agreement with theoretical calculations based on physico–chemical considerations. Observations show that while oxygen distribution within the media was found to be non-uniform at the beginning of each cycle, it approached more uniform distribution with time. The latter resulted mainly from diffusion of oxygen in the gaseous phase.     

人工湿地预处理微污染原水的脱氮除磷性能研究

分别采用推流式潜流湿地、往复流式潜流湿地、芦苇床表流湿地、蒲草床表流湿地四种人工湿地对微污染原水进行预处理,对比研究了四种人工湿地对总氮、氨氮、硝态氮及总磷的去除效果。结果表明,蒲草床表流湿地对总氮具有较高的去除率,在夏季和秋季去除率基本保持在60％～90％之间,四种湿地对总磷的去除率既不明显也不稳定。     

不同构型湿地氧分布及脱氮效果对比

通过2组对比试验(垂直流与水平流湿地、单段式与三段式水平流湿地), 考察了不同构型湿地中溶解氧的分布情况及脱氮效果。结果表明: 不同构型人工湿地水力流态的区别,导致了床体溶解氧分布和脱氮效果的差异。垂直流人工湿地独特的结构设计和水力流态更有利于湿地内部的供氧, 局部氧浓度可比水平流湿地高0.17 mg/L;脱氮效果优于相同运行条件下的水平流湿地, NH+4-N、TN去除率分别可提高约9%、5%。三段式水平流湿地通过接触槽内复氧, 有效改善了溶解氧分布, 利于硝化反应进行, NH+4-N去除率最高达66%, TN去除率最高达71%, 分别比单段式湿地提高约8%和5%。此外,三段式湿地在较低水位下运行仍能取得较好的脱氮效果,其最佳停留时间的范围也得以延展。     

不同类型水生植物在人工湿地中的净化效果研究进展

人工湿地作为污水的深度处理系统,因其处理效果好、运行费用低等优势得到国内外广泛应用。文章介绍了人工瀑地的优越性与水生植物的作用原理,综述了挺水植物、浮水植物和沉水植物在国内外的净化效果研究实践,讨论了各类型水生植物在人工湿地建设中的适用性,指出目前的研究不足之处。     

人工湿地在农业面源污染治理中的应用

简要概述了农业面源污染,并介绍了人工湿地的定义、特点、机理、类型、构建方式和工艺流程等。通过分析国内外人工湿地技术治理农业面源污染实例进展,总结出人工湿地处理农业面源污染具有应用广泛、投资低廉、综合效益高的特点。在讨论现阶段人工湿地的研究状况和应用前景的基础上,提出了目前人工湿地应用的主要问题和发展方向。     

Adsorption, sedimentation, and inactivation of E. coli within wastewater treatment wetlands

Bacteria fate and transport within constructed wetlands must be understood if engineered wetlands are to become a reliable form of wastewater treatment. This study investigated the relative importance of microbial treatment mechanisms in constructed wetlands treating both domestic and agricultural wastewater. Escherichia coli (E. coli) inactivation, adsorption, and settling rates were measured in the lab within two types of wastewater (dairy wastewater lagoon effluent and domestic septic tank effluent). In situ E. coli inactivation was also measured within a domestic wastewater treatment wetland and the adsorption of E. coli was also measured within the wetland effluent.Inactivation of E. coli appears to be the most significant contributor to E. coli removal within the wastewaters and wetland environments examined in this study. E. coli survived longer within the dairy wastewater (DW) compared to the domestic wastewater treatment wetland water (WW). First order rate constants for E. coli inactivation within the WW in the lab ranged from 0.09 day⁻¹ (d⁻¹) at 7.6 °C to 0.18 d⁻¹ at 22.8 °C. The average in situ rate constant observed within the domestic wetland ranged from 0.02 d⁻¹ to 0.03 d⁻¹ at an average water temperature of 17 °C. First order rate constants for E. coli inactivation within the DW ranged from 0.01 d⁻¹ at 7.7 °C to 0.04 d⁻¹ at 24.6 °C. Calculated distribution coefficients (K_d) were 19,000 mL g⁻¹, 324,000 mL g⁻¹, and 293 mL g⁻¹ for E. coli with domestic septic tank effluent (STE), treated wetland effluent (WLE), and DW, respectively. Approximately 50%, 20%, and 90% of E. coli were “free floating” or associated with particles <5 μm in size within the STE, WLE, and DW respectively. Although 10-50% of E. coli were found to associate with particles >5 μm within both the STE and DW, settling did not appear to contribute to E. coli removal within sedimentation experiments, indicating that the particles the bacteria were associated with had very small settling velocities.The results of this study highlight the importance of wastewater characterization when designing a treatment wetland system for bacterial removal. This study illustrated the level of variability in E. coli removal processes that can be observed within different wastewater, and wetland environments.     

复合垂直流人工湿地在奥林匹克森林公园龙型水系的应用

介绍了北京奥林匹克森林公园人工湿地系统的设计,跟踪调查了复合垂直流人工湿地在龙型水系水质改善中的功能和效果.复合垂直流人工湿地系统占地面积为41500 m~2,处理水量为2 600 m~3/d的污水处理厂尾水(再生水)和20 000 m~3/d的主湖循环水.一年多的运行表明,该系统与其他生态工程的协同作用有效地改善了公园内的龙型水系水质,特别是在奥运期间,在保证了奥运主湖水质良好的同时,为运动员和观众提供了优美的休息环境,取得了良好的生态、环境、经济和文化等综合效益.     

复合垂直流人工湿地净化污水厂二级出水的研究

在间歇运行条件下,采用复合垂直流人工湿地净化污水处理厂二级出水,考察了其净化效果及影响因素.结果表明,该系统能够有效降低污水厂二级出水中的氮和磷,适用于城市污水的深度处理.在0.4 m~3/(m~2·d)的低水力负荷条件下,系统对COD、氨氮、总氮和PO_4~(3-)P的去除率分别为87.4%、82.15%、60.32%和30.15%;当排空时间为2 h时,系统的处理效果最好,对氨氮、总氮、PO_4~(3+)-P的去除率分别为84.44%、65.46%和40.33%.