Hydraulic performance of small free water surface constructed wetlands treating sugar factory effluent in western Kenya

• This study investigated, using a lithium salt tracer, how macrophyte species and hydraulic loading rate (HLR) of wastewater influenced hydraulics in constructed wetlands (CWs). Four pilot-scale CWs received 45 mm day(-1) of pre-treated sugar factory effluent and another four received 110 mm day(-1). Half the CWs were planted with Cyperus papyrus and half with Echinochloa pyramidalis. Results showed a significant negative connection between tracer mass recovery and wetland water leakages. Also, a significant negative relationship between active wetland water volume and macrophyte density was detected. Further, a significant effect of HLR on mass removal rates of NH4+-N was observed. However, no significant effect of either HLR or macrophyte species on wetland hydraulic parameters was found.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Miljövetenskap (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Environmental Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

constructed wetland; Cyperus papyrus; Echinochloa pyramidalis; hydraulic loading rate; hydraulic tracer study; vegetation

TECHNOLOGY

TEKNIKVETENSKAP

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)