Hybrid wetland system for a pet-care center wastewater treatment

MAINE, M.A.; SANCHEZ, G.C.; HADAD H.R.; CAFFARATTI, S. E.; PEDRO, M.C.; DI LUCA, G.A.; MUFARREGE, M.M.; NOCETTI, E.

ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2022

0925-8574

A hybrid wetland (HW) consisting of a free-water surface flow wetland (FWSW)followed by a horizontal subsurface flow wetland (HSSFW) was constructed for thefinal treatment of wastewater from a pet-care center. Typha domingensis was plantedin both wetlands. During the first year of operation, wastewater was separated fromsolid pet waste (first period). Then, that solid waste and liquid wastewater were treatedtogether, causing a significant increase in the concentration of the pollutants (N, P, andorganic matter) in the effluent treated in the HW (second period). The objectives of thiswork were to evaluate the performance of the system and compare its efficiencybetween periods. The HW was efficient in both periods, except for nitrate removal.Total mean removals were: 66.9 and 82.8 % for COD, 74.9 and 88.3 % for BOD, 61.9and 83.0 % for ammonium, 67.7 and 83.8 % for TKN, 5.65 and 20.37 % for nitrate, and56.9 and 62.1 % for TP in the first and second period, respectively. In the secondperiod, mean removal efficiency percentages increased and the contaminantconcentrations in the outlet were not significantly different from those of the first period.In the second period, the highest pollutant removal occurred in the FWSW mainly forCOD, BOD and TKN. TP and TKN concentrations in plant tissues of the inlet area ofFWSW were significantly higher than those in plants from the HSSFW. The studyshowed that this HW is a low cost, efficient and sustainable solution for the pet-carecenter wastewater treatment.