Treatment of Storm Water from Agricultural Catchment in Pilot Scale Constructed Wetland

Abstract

Constructed wetlands as a treatment system are widely explored in different climate conditions and established to be effective in pollution removal from water environment. This study aims to demonstrate the performance of pilot-scale subsurface flow constructed wetland for storm water treatment in Latvia. The catchment basin was located in a farmyard of agricultural area and storm water was collected from the impermeable pavements. Storm water was accumulated in an open pond and periodically pumped above the filter part of the subsurface flow constructed wetland. Grab samples were collected once or twice per month at the inlet and outlet of the treatment system during a period of 73 months from year 2014 to 2020. Water quality parameters as nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N), ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N), total nitrogen (TN), orthophosphate phosphorus (PO4-P), and total phosphorus (TP), total suspended solids (TSS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were monitored. Water level at the inlet structure was automatically measured and flow rate was calculated based on the Manning equation for partially filled circular pipes. Results showed the reduction of average concentrations for all parameters during the study period. However, in some sampling cases concentrations increased at the outlet of the treatment system and can be explained by influencing factors of farming and maintenance. The treatment efficiency of NO3-N, NH4-N, TN, PO4-P, TP, TSS, BOD5 and COD concentrations was 17 %, 68 %, 55 %, 78 %, 80 %, 57 %, 80 % and 74 %, respectively. The study site demonstrated a potential to improve water quality in the long term.