Influence of hydraulic retention time and plant species on performance of mesocosm subsurface constructed wetlands during municipal wastewater treatment in super-arid areas

ABSTRACT

A constructed wetland (CW) in arid areas requires special knowledge given the particular climatic conditions. Among other aspects, the Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT) and plant species may be two important design parameters in hyper- and super-arid areas. Therefore, the study aimed to evaluate the influence of both variables in the application of CW in super-arid areas. Two HRT, 3.5 d and 7 d, and plant species classified by their origin: (a) native, Festuca Orthopylla, Cortaderia atacamensis and Schoenoplectus americanus, and (b) foreign, Cyperus papyrus, were evaluated in four Mesocosm Constructed Wetlands (MCW) operated in a super-arid area. The results showed that the HRT significantly increased (α < 0.05) in more than 10% the removal efficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus forms (TN, NH₄⁺-N, TP, PO₄⁻³-P). These results were the same for the two groups of plants assessed. Moreover, Cyperus papyrus significantly increased (α < 0.05) above 30% the removal efficiency, but only for nitrogen and phosphorus forms. MCW with this plant species showed a water loss above 25% and significantly increased (α < 0.05) the Electrical Conductivity (EC) of effluents. MCW planted with Schoenoplectus americanus showed water losses of around 25% for the both HRT evaluated, and its influence was not significant (α > 0.05) on the EC of the effluents. These results suggest that Schoenoplectus americanus would be an ideal candidate species for use in CW with subsurface flow in super-arid areas, with HRT varying between 3.5 d and 7 d.

KEYWORDS:

• Atacama desert
• constructed wetland
• Cyperus Papyrus
• hydraulic retention time
• super-arid area
• Schoenoplectus americanus

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to express their gratitude to Sergio Fuentes, Renzo Aravena and Isabel Tello from Aguas del Altiplano for their important help and support; and also to Christian Santander, Mauricio Rojas and Sussy Tapia from CIDERH and Universidad Arturo Prat for their important help during the course of the experiment.

Funding

CONICYT REGIONAL/ GORE TARAPACÁ/ CIDERH supported this work under Grant No. R09I1001.