Specialist Group on Use of Macrophytes in Water Pollution ... - IWA
Specialist Group on Use of Macrophytes in Water Pollution ... - IWA
Specialist Group on Use of Macrophytes in Water Pollution ... - IWA
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<str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong><br />
<strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol<br />
Newsletter No. 35<br />
November 2009<br />
Edited by: Dr Suwasa Kantawanichkul<br />
Department <strong>of</strong> Envir<strong>on</strong>mental Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Faculty <strong>of</strong> Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Chiang Mai University<br />
Chiang Mai<br />
50200<br />
Thailand<br />
Email: suwasa@eng.cmu.ac.th<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> organisati<strong>on</strong><br />
Chair: Dr Jan Vymazal (vymazal@yahoo.com)<br />
Secretary: Dr Suwasa Kantawanichkul (suwasa@eng.cmu.ac.th)<br />
Regi<strong>on</strong>al Coord<strong>in</strong>ators<br />
ASIA: Dr Zhai Jun (zhaijun99@126.com; zhaijun@cqu.edu.cn)<br />
SOUTHEAST ASIA: Dr Suwasa Kantwanichkul (suwasa@eng.cmu.ac.th)<br />
AUSTRALIA: Dr Margaret Greenway (m.greenway@mailbox.gu.edu.au)<br />
NEW ZEALAND: Dr Chris C Tanner (c.tanner@niwa.co.nz)<br />
EUROPE: Dr Jan Vymazal (vymazal@yahoo.com)<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Reimund Harberl (raimund.haberl@boku.ac.at)<br />
Dr Guenter Langergraber (guenter.langergraber@boku.ac.at)<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Brian Shutes (b.shutes@mdx.ac.uk)<br />
Dr Fabio Masi (masi@iridra.com)<br />
Mr Heibert Rustige (rustige@akut-umwelt.de)<br />
MIDDLE EAST: Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Michal Green (agmgreen@tx.techni<strong>on</strong>.ac.il)<br />
NORTH AMERICA: Dr Otto Ste<strong>in</strong> (ottos@ce.m<strong>on</strong>tana.edu)<br />
SOUTH AMERICA: Dr Gabriela Dotro (gdotro@gmail.com)<br />
____________________________________________________________________________________________________<br />
<strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35 1
CONTENTS<br />
Preface by the Secretary.............................................................................................................. 3<br />
First call for the 2010 c<strong>on</strong>ference <strong>in</strong> Venice ............................................................................... 4<br />
3rd Internati<strong>on</strong>al Symposium <strong>on</strong> Wetland Pollutant Dynamics and C<strong>on</strong>trol – WETPOL2009,<br />
20–24 September 2009, Barcel<strong>on</strong>a, Spa<strong>in</strong> ................................................................................ 10<br />
Unclogg<strong>in</strong>g the future <strong>of</strong> treatment wetlands ............................................................................ 11<br />
Applicati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> c<strong>on</strong>structed wetland for c<strong>on</strong>troll<strong>in</strong>g leachate polluti<strong>on</strong> from solid waste<br />
disposal ..................................................................................................................................... 15<br />
Estrogen removal <strong>in</strong> wetlands – review .................................................................................... 17<br />
Update <strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>structed Wetland Applicati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>in</strong> Italy ............................................................. 24<br />
The treatment wetland <strong>of</strong> the M<strong>on</strong>treal Biosphere: 15 years later ............................................ 35<br />
News from <strong>IWA</strong> Headquarters ................................................................................................ 40<br />
New from <strong>IWA</strong> Publish<strong>in</strong>g ....................................................................................................... 42<br />
Disclaimer: This is not a journal, but a Newsletter issued by the <strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol. Statements made <strong>in</strong> this Newsletter do not necessarily represent the views <strong>of</strong> the<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> or those <strong>of</strong> the <strong>IWA</strong>. The use <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>formati<strong>on</strong> supplied <strong>in</strong> the Newsletter is at the sole risk <strong>of</strong> the<br />
user, as the <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> and the <strong>IWA</strong> do not accept any resp<strong>on</strong>sibility or liability.<br />
___________________________________________________________________________<br />
2 <strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35
PREFACE BY THE SECRETARY<br />
Dear Members,<br />
Greet<strong>in</strong>gs and welcome to the 35th editi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> our <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> Newsletter! We are very<br />
pleased with the success <strong>of</strong> our <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g>‘s work, which is reflected <strong>in</strong> the attendance to<br />
specialists‘ c<strong>on</strong>ferences and c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>s to this Newsletter, am<strong>on</strong>g others. In this editi<strong>on</strong>,<br />
we have some important announcements that perta<strong>in</strong> to our <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> activities:<br />
1) Newsletter frequency: Given the success <strong>of</strong> the c<strong>on</strong>t<strong>in</strong>uous editi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the newsletter, and<br />
address<strong>in</strong>g a stated need for greater communicati<strong>on</strong> between the members <strong>of</strong> our <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g>,<br />
we are now aim<strong>in</strong>g to release two issues <strong>of</strong> the newsletter per calendar year. The first<br />
editi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the 2010 newsletter is planned for April/May, with a sec<strong>on</strong>d issue to be sent out<br />
<strong>in</strong> October/November. This should enable faster, up-to-date communicati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> topics<br />
relevant to our Members.<br />
2) Newsletter c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>s: Directly related to the purpose <strong>of</strong> the newsletter and the<br />
<strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> issu<strong>in</strong>g frequency, we k<strong>in</strong>dly request all members to submit short articles,<br />
news, or any other activities that might be <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>terest for our <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> Members<br />
for their potential <strong>in</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong> the newsletter. These can be sent directly to the <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Secretary at: suwasa@eng.cmu.ac.th. Please note the deadl<strong>in</strong>e for the April/May issue<br />
will be March 15, 2010.<br />
3) Coord<strong>in</strong>ators changes: Follow<strong>in</strong>g up <strong>on</strong> the discussi<strong>on</strong>s held at the 11th Internati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
C<strong>on</strong>ference <strong>on</strong> Wetland Systems for <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol <strong>in</strong> November 2008, we have<br />
updated our Coord<strong>in</strong>ators for the different geographical areas to facilitate the exchange <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong>formati<strong>on</strong> am<strong>on</strong>g our Members. The Coord<strong>in</strong>ators c<strong>on</strong>tribute to steer<strong>in</strong>g and balanc<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the article c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>s from each regi<strong>on</strong> and are available for any regi<strong>on</strong>-specific<br />
questi<strong>on</strong>s you may have. They have been designated and grouped as follows:<br />
� Asia: Dr Zhai Jun (email:zhaijun99@126.com, zhaijun@cqu.edu.cn)<br />
� South East Asia: Suwasa Kantwanichkul (email: suwasa@eng.cmu.ac.th)<br />
� Australia: Margaret Greenway (email: m.greenway@mailbox.gu.edu.au)<br />
� New Zealand: Chris Tanner (email: c.tanner@niwa.co.nz)<br />
� Europe:<br />
o Jan Vymazal (email: vymazal@yahoo.com),<br />
o Reimund Harberl (email: raimund.haberl@boku.ac.at),<br />
o Guenter Langergraber (email: guenter.langergraber@boku.ac.at),<br />
o Brian Shutes (email: b.shutes@mdx.ac.uk),<br />
o Fabio Masi (email: masi@iridra.com),<br />
o Heibert Rustige (email: rustige@akut-umwelt.de)<br />
� Middle East: Michal Green (email: agmgreen@tx.techni<strong>on</strong>.ac.il)<br />
� North America: Otto Ste<strong>in</strong> (email: ottos@ce.m<strong>on</strong>tana.edu)<br />
� South America: Gabriela Dotro (email: gdotro@gmail.com)<br />
As always, we strive to have an active <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> and provide true benefits to our Members.<br />
Therefore, if you have any suggesti<strong>on</strong>s for improvement or add<strong>in</strong>g value to our current<br />
activities as a <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g>, please do not hesitate to send them as well.<br />
Look<strong>in</strong>g forward to hear<strong>in</strong>g from you. Best regards,<br />
Suwasa Kantawanickul<br />
____________________________________________________________________________________________________<br />
<strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35 3
FIRST CALL FOR THE 2010 CONFERENCE IN VENICE<br />
___________________________________________________________________________<br />
4 <strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35
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<strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35 5
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6 <strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35
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<strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35 7
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8 <strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35
____________________________________________________________________________________________________<br />
<strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35 9
3rd Internati<strong>on</strong>al Symposium <strong>on</strong> Wetland Pollutant Dynamics and C<strong>on</strong>trol – WETPOL2009,<br />
20–24 September 2009, Barcel<strong>on</strong>a, Spa<strong>in</strong><br />
Guenter Langergraber<br />
Institute <strong>of</strong> Sanitary Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g and <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol, University <strong>of</strong> Natural<br />
Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Muthgasse 18, A-1190 Vienna, Austria<br />
(tel: +43-(0)1-47654-5814; fax: +43-(0)1-3689949;<br />
email: guenter.langergraber@boku.ac.at)<br />
Introducti<strong>on</strong><br />
The basic idea beh<strong>in</strong>d the WETPOL symposium series is to br<strong>in</strong>g together scientist work<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>on</strong> processes <strong>in</strong> natural and c<strong>on</strong>structed wetlands. The very first WETPOL Symposium<br />
‗Wetland Pollutant Dynamics and C<strong>on</strong>trol‘ was held <strong>in</strong> September 2005 <strong>in</strong> Gent, Belgium.<br />
The sec<strong>on</strong>d WETPOL Symposium took place <strong>in</strong> September 2007 <strong>in</strong> Tartu, Est<strong>on</strong>ia. More<br />
than 200 delegates from more than 30 countries participated <strong>in</strong> this sec<strong>on</strong>d symposium.<br />
WETPOL 2009 was held from 20 to 24 September 2009 <strong>in</strong> Barcel<strong>on</strong>a, Spa<strong>in</strong>. The symposium<br />
was organised by the Department <strong>of</strong> Hydraulics, Maritime and Envir<strong>on</strong>mental Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g at<br />
the Technical University <strong>of</strong> Catal<strong>on</strong>ia (UPC) and the Institute <strong>of</strong> Envir<strong>on</strong>mental Assessment<br />
and <strong>Water</strong> Research (IDAEA-CSIC) <strong>in</strong> Barcel<strong>on</strong>a.<br />
Over 250 participants from 38 countries attended WETPOL 2009, <strong>in</strong> total 5 plenary and 5<br />
keynote lectures were presented to the full auditorium as well as 100 oral and 95 poster<br />
presentati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>in</strong> parallel sessi<strong>on</strong>. The plenary lecturers were presented by Eloy Bécares<br />
(Spa<strong>in</strong>), Y<strong>on</strong>g Cai (USA), Peter Kuschk (Germany), Patrick J. Meg<strong>on</strong>igal (USA), and Carlos<br />
Vale (Portugal). Topics <strong>of</strong> the parallel sessi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>in</strong>cluded the wetland‘s role <strong>in</strong> pollutant<br />
management at catchment scale, pollutant modell<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> wetlands, behaviour <strong>of</strong> priority and<br />
emerg<strong>in</strong>g pollutants <strong>in</strong> wetlands, molecular and microbial advances <strong>in</strong> wetlands, role <strong>of</strong><br />
wetlands‘ plants <strong>in</strong> polluti<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>trol, trace elements, technological developments <strong>in</strong><br />
c<strong>on</strong>structed wetlands, etc.<br />
The follow-up event, WETPOL 2011, is planned to be held <strong>in</strong> c<strong>on</strong>juncti<strong>on</strong> with two other<br />
meet<strong>in</strong>gs, the Society <strong>of</strong> Wetland Scientists annual meet<strong>in</strong>g and the Biogeochemistry Wetland<br />
Symposium <strong>in</strong> Prague, Czech Republic. More <strong>in</strong>formati<strong>on</strong> will be available so<strong>on</strong> at the<br />
WETPOL website.<br />
References<br />
Bay<strong>on</strong>a, J.M., García, J. (Eds.): 3rd Internati<strong>on</strong>al Symposium <strong>on</strong> ‗Wetland Pollutant<br />
Dynamics and C<strong>on</strong>trol – WETPOL 2009‘ – Book <strong>of</strong> Abstracts, 20–24 September 2009,<br />
Barcel<strong>on</strong>a, Spa<strong>in</strong> (ISBN-10: 978-84-692-5587-2, CD-ROM).<br />
WETPOL website: http://www.wetpol.org/<br />
___________________________________________________________________________<br />
10 <strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35
UNCLOGGING THE FUTURE OF TREATMENT WETLANDS<br />
A <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workshop <strong>on</strong> Treatment Wetland Clogg<strong>in</strong>g was recently hosted by Ast<strong>on</strong><br />
University, UK. The two-day event was free to attend and attracted experts from across<br />
academia, government and <strong>in</strong>dustry. The delegates, who hailed from Argent<strong>in</strong>a, India,<br />
Germany Spa<strong>in</strong> and the UK, were keen to address a problem which is <strong>of</strong>ten c<strong>on</strong>sidered ‗the<br />
Achilles-heel‘ <strong>of</strong> Treatment Wetland technology. The aim <strong>of</strong> the sem<strong>in</strong>ar was to build <strong>on</strong><br />
discussi<strong>on</strong>s held <strong>in</strong> Indore, India (at the 11th <strong>IWA</strong> Internati<strong>on</strong>al C<strong>on</strong>ference <strong>on</strong> Wetland<br />
Systems for <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol) where it was suggested that a focus <strong>of</strong> the next<br />
decade‘s research should be an improved understand<strong>in</strong>g and viable soluti<strong>on</strong>s regard<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
clogg<strong>in</strong>g phenomen<strong>on</strong>. Clogg<strong>in</strong>g manifests itself as a loss <strong>of</strong> subsurface media porosity (<strong>of</strong>ten<br />
gravels or sands) due to the physical, chemical and biological mechanisms <strong>of</strong> wastewater<br />
purificati<strong>on</strong>. One example is depositi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> wastewater solids with<strong>in</strong> the gravel pore spaces,<br />
due to settl<strong>in</strong>g and filtrati<strong>on</strong>. The result is a loss <strong>of</strong> hydraulic c<strong>on</strong>ductivity through the<br />
subsurface over time, lead<strong>in</strong>g to the development <strong>of</strong> preferential flow-paths and overland<br />
flow. The reducti<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong> reactor volume will shorten the hydraulic residence time <strong>of</strong> the system,<br />
and <strong>in</strong> extreme cases can prevent the system from achiev<strong>in</strong>g the required treatment<br />
performance [1].<br />
The first day <strong>of</strong> the workshop comprised a rich and varied collecti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> presentati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
delivered by the participants. Government agency the UK Coal Authority described their<br />
experience <strong>of</strong> clogg<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> wetlands for m<strong>in</strong>e wastewater treatment. <strong>Water</strong> utility provider<br />
Severn Trent <strong>Water</strong> expla<strong>in</strong>ed how the design <strong>of</strong> wetlands for municipal wastewater<br />
treatment has evolved based <strong>on</strong> their experiences <strong>of</strong> clogg<strong>in</strong>g [2], such as improved <strong>in</strong>let<br />
distributors and coarser specificati<strong>on</strong>s for gravel substrates. Representatives from c<strong>on</strong>sult<strong>in</strong>g<br />
wetland eng<strong>in</strong>eers such as ARM Ltd. and North American Wetland Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g described<br />
novel <strong>in</strong>itiatives to restore subsurface flow through systems that have become clogged,<br />
<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>-situ gravel wash<strong>in</strong>g technologies [3] and applicati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> chemical oxidants such<br />
as hydrogen peroxide [4]. Key note speaker Joan García from the Technical University <strong>of</strong><br />
Catal<strong>on</strong>ia, presented his research <strong>on</strong> how the compositi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> wastewater (particulate or<br />
dissolved, refractory or labile) can exacerbate the clogg<strong>in</strong>g problem [5]. Am<strong>on</strong>gst others,<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>s from academia <strong>in</strong>cluded emerg<strong>in</strong>g methods to measure and characterise<br />
treatment wetland clogg<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>-situ [6, 7] (Ast<strong>on</strong> University, UK and Technical University <strong>of</strong><br />
Catal<strong>on</strong>ia, Spa<strong>in</strong>), how accumulati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> specific metals such as chromium can limit the<br />
lifespan <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>dustrial wastewater treatment wetlands [8] (Nati<strong>on</strong>al University <strong>of</strong> Litoral,<br />
Argent<strong>in</strong>a), the way that computer models can be used to simulate the <strong>in</strong>teracti<strong>on</strong> between<br />
clogg<strong>in</strong>g and wetlands hydraulics, and how climatic c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s must be c<strong>on</strong>sidered when<br />
deriv<strong>in</strong>g models for wetland hydrology [9, 10] (Ast<strong>on</strong> University).<br />
On the sec<strong>on</strong>d day, delegates visited four local sewage treatment plants operated by Severn<br />
Trent <strong>Water</strong>, where they saw dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>of</strong> the latest techniques for the measurement <strong>of</strong><br />
clogg<strong>in</strong>g and the restorati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> hydraulically mature wetlands. The event organisers from<br />
Ast<strong>on</strong> University‘s Susta<strong>in</strong>able Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Research <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> stated, ―the event <strong>of</strong>fered the<br />
perfect platform to discuss the wetland clogg<strong>in</strong>g issue, and the <strong>in</strong>formati<strong>on</strong> exchanged laid<br />
the foundati<strong>on</strong>s for future research by summaris<strong>in</strong>g the state <strong>of</strong> current understand<strong>in</strong>g with<strong>in</strong><br />
the field, and identify<strong>in</strong>g gaps <strong>in</strong> the knowledge. This has prompted us all to c<strong>on</strong>sider new<br />
ways <strong>of</strong> tackl<strong>in</strong>g clogg<strong>in</strong>g, and will hopefully stimulate and shape the future <strong>of</strong> clogg<strong>in</strong>g<br />
research <strong>in</strong> wetland science.‖ Based <strong>on</strong> the c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>of</strong> the workshop it was suggested that<br />
avenues for the next decade‘s clogg<strong>in</strong>g research should specifically address:<br />
____________________________________________________________________________________________________<br />
<strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35 11
� Characterisati<strong>on</strong> and comparis<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> how different wetland system designs develop<br />
clogg<strong>in</strong>g. Ways <strong>of</strong> measur<strong>in</strong>g the extent <strong>of</strong> clogg<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> these systems and guidel<strong>in</strong>es<br />
for when to <strong>in</strong>tervene (ma<strong>in</strong>tenance/refurbishment).<br />
� The effect <strong>of</strong> water depth <strong>on</strong> algal growth and surface bl<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> systems with<br />
overland flow. The effect <strong>of</strong> water depth, gravel properties (particle shape, sphericity,<br />
and pack<strong>in</strong>g arrangement) and leaf litter c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>s, <strong>on</strong> clogg<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
� Investigati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>in</strong>to the mechanisms beh<strong>in</strong>d clogg<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g characterisati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
accumulated matter and its ability to decompose depend<strong>in</strong>g <strong>on</strong> microbial dynamics<br />
and the different oxidati<strong>on</strong> states found <strong>in</strong> wetland subsurfaces, the impact <strong>of</strong> airlock<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>on</strong> hydraulic c<strong>on</strong>ductivity as caused by methanogenesis, and the effect <strong>of</strong><br />
temperature <strong>on</strong> rhizome growth and penetrati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
� Possible design improvements such as <strong>in</strong>let distributors that achieve uniform width<br />
load<strong>in</strong>g, improved flow depth regulators to prevent overland flow, buoyant media<br />
such as plastics as opposed to static media such as gravels.<br />
� Measurement <strong>of</strong> the hydraulic improvements <strong>of</strong>fered by operati<strong>on</strong>al soluti<strong>on</strong>s such as<br />
us<strong>in</strong>g multiple beds with alternate load<strong>in</strong>g/dry<strong>in</strong>g periods, when compared to<br />
c<strong>on</strong>t<strong>in</strong>uous operati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
� Cost versus improvement analysis <strong>of</strong> remediati<strong>on</strong> strategies such as gravel wash<strong>in</strong>g<br />
and chemical oxidant applicati<strong>on</strong>, over traditi<strong>on</strong>al refurbishment methods such as<br />
replacement <strong>of</strong> clogged media with fresh media.<br />
For more <strong>in</strong>formati<strong>on</strong> regard<strong>in</strong>g the workshop outcomes or clogg<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> treatment wetlands<br />
please c<strong>on</strong>tact p.a.davies@ast<strong>on</strong>.ac.uk<br />
Delegates <strong>of</strong> the <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> Workshop <strong>on</strong> Treatment Wetland Clogg<strong>in</strong>g, Ast<strong>on</strong> University,<br />
UK, March 2009. Photo taken at Gayd<strong>on</strong> Sewage Treatment Work, Warwickshire, UK<br />
(Severn Trent <strong>Water</strong>), courtesy <strong>of</strong> Jaime Nivala.<br />
___________________________________________________________________________<br />
12 <strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35
Paul Knowles (Ast<strong>on</strong> University) and Anna Pedescoll (Technical University <strong>of</strong> Catal<strong>on</strong>ia),<br />
dem<strong>on</strong>strat<strong>in</strong>g the latest techniques for the <strong>in</strong>-situ measurement <strong>of</strong> wetland clogg<strong>in</strong>g. Photo<br />
taken at Moret<strong>on</strong> Morrell Sewage Treatment Works, Warwickshire UK (Severn Trent<br />
<strong>Water</strong>), courtesy <strong>of</strong> Jaime Nivala.<br />
____________________________________________________________________________________________________<br />
<strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35 13
References<br />
1. Kadlec, R.H. and S. Wallace, Treatment wetlands. 2008, Boca Rat<strong>on</strong>, Fla.: CRC ;<br />
L<strong>on</strong>d<strong>on</strong> : Taylor & Francis [distributor]. 1 v.<br />
2. Griff<strong>in</strong>, P., L. Wils<strong>on</strong>, and D. Cooper. Changes <strong>in</strong> the use, operati<strong>on</strong> and design <strong>of</strong> subsurface<br />
flow c<strong>on</strong>structed wetlands <strong>in</strong> a major UK water utility. <strong>in</strong> 11th Internati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
C<strong>on</strong>ference <strong>on</strong> Wetland Systems for <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol. 2008. Indore, India:<br />
Vikram University and <strong>IWA</strong>.<br />
3. http://www.armreedbeds.co.uk/Field_Services/refurbishment/. [cited 15/06/2009].<br />
4. Nivala, J. and D.P.L. Rousseau, Revers<strong>in</strong>g clogg<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> subsurface-flow c<strong>on</strong>structed<br />
wetlands by hydrogen peroxide treatment: two case studies. <strong>Water</strong> Sci. Technol., 2009.<br />
59(10): p. 2037-2046.<br />
5. Caselles-Osorio, A. and J. García, Performance <strong>of</strong> experimental horiz<strong>on</strong>tal subsurface<br />
flow c<strong>on</strong>structed wetlands fed with dissolved or particulate organic matter. <strong>Water</strong><br />
Research, 2006. 40(19): p. 3603-3611.<br />
6. Knowles, P.R. and P.A. Davies, A method for the <strong>in</strong>-situ determ<strong>in</strong>ati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the hydraulic<br />
c<strong>on</strong>ductivity <strong>of</strong> gravels as used <strong>in</strong> c<strong>on</strong>structed wetlands for wastewater treatment.<br />
Desal<strong>in</strong>ati<strong>on</strong> and <strong>Water</strong> Treatment, 2009: p. In Press.<br />
7. Pedescoll, A., et al., Practical method based <strong>on</strong> saturated hydraulic c<strong>on</strong>ductivity used to<br />
assess clogg<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> subsurface flow c<strong>on</strong>structed wetlands. Ecological Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g, 2009.<br />
In Press.<br />
8. Dotro, G.C., P. Palazolo, and D. Larsen, Chromium fate <strong>in</strong> c<strong>on</strong>structed wetlands treat<strong>in</strong>g<br />
tannery wastewaters. <strong>Water</strong> Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Research, 2009. In Press.<br />
9. Hedges, P.D., P.M. Fermor, and J. Dušek, The Hydrological Susta<strong>in</strong>ability <strong>of</strong><br />
C<strong>on</strong>structed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment, <strong>in</strong> Wastewater Treatment, Plant<br />
Dynamics and Management <strong>in</strong> C<strong>on</strong>structed and Natural Wetlands, J. Vymazal, Editor.<br />
2008. p. 111-120.<br />
10. Knowles, P.R., P. Griff<strong>in</strong>, and P.A. Davies. A f<strong>in</strong>ite element approach to modell<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
hydrological regime <strong>in</strong> horiz<strong>on</strong>tal subsurface flow c<strong>on</strong>structed wetlands for wastewater<br />
treatment. <strong>in</strong> 7th Internati<strong>on</strong>al Workshop <strong>on</strong> Nutrient Cycl<strong>in</strong>g and Retenti<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong> Natural<br />
and C<strong>on</strong>structed Wetlands. 2009. Treb<strong>on</strong>, Czech Republic.<br />
___________________________________________________________________________<br />
14 <strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35
APPLICATION OF CONSTRUCTED WETLAND FOR CONTROLLING<br />
LEACHATE POLLUTION FROM SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL<br />
Chart Chiemchaisri<br />
Department <strong>of</strong> Envir<strong>on</strong>mental Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g/Nati<strong>on</strong>al Center <strong>of</strong> Excellence for Envir<strong>on</strong>mental<br />
and Hazardous Waste Management, Faculty <strong>of</strong> Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g, Kasetsart University, Bangkok<br />
10900, Thailand<br />
An <strong>in</strong>vestigati<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong> Thailand is focus<strong>in</strong>g <strong>on</strong> the applicati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> c<strong>on</strong>structed wetland for direct<br />
treatment <strong>of</strong> leachate at municipal solid waste disposal site. The ma<strong>in</strong> purpose <strong>of</strong> treatment<br />
was to reduce the organic c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong> leachate to an acceptable c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong> so that it<br />
can be further utilize for irrigati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> the landfill top soil. Two c<strong>on</strong>figurati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>of</strong> c<strong>on</strong>structed<br />
wetland were tested, i.e. horiz<strong>on</strong>tal sub-surface flow (HSF, Figure 1) and vertical flow (VF)<br />
types. Cattail was used as the vegetati<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong> both systems. They were applied for primary<br />
treatment <strong>of</strong> young leachate as well as post treatment for stabilized leachate. In each case, the<br />
hydraulic load<strong>in</strong>g rate (HLR) is varied between 0.01-0.056 m 3 /m 2 .d, equivalent to hydraulic<br />
retenti<strong>on</strong> time (HRT) <strong>in</strong> range <strong>of</strong> 28 and 5 days.<br />
Pollutant removal efficiencies <strong>in</strong> c<strong>on</strong>structed wetland<br />
Applied leachate had COD c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> about 3,000-5,000 mg/l with BOD/COD ratio <strong>of</strong><br />
0.6-0.7 and 0.05-0.1 for young and stabilized leachate respectively. In HSF and VF systems<br />
treat<strong>in</strong>g young leachate, high organic removal <strong>of</strong> more than 90% was achieved up to HLR <strong>of</strong><br />
0.028 m 3 /m 2 .d. In stabilized leachate case, moderate organic removal efficiencies were<br />
achieved. TKN removal was higher <strong>in</strong> VF (60-70%) as compared to HSF system (40-50%).<br />
Temporal accumulati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> oxidized nitrogen was observed at high nitrogen load<strong>in</strong>g c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong><br />
(from stabilized leachate) caus<strong>in</strong>g some death <strong>of</strong> plant (Figure 2). Moderate nitrogen removal<br />
efficiencies was achieved at HLR up to 28 m 3 /m 2 .d for stabilized leachate where <strong>in</strong>fluent<br />
TKN c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong> was c<strong>on</strong>trolled at about 100-300 mgL -1 .<br />
Gravel<br />
Influent<br />
Coarse sand<br />
Figure 1 Schematic <strong>of</strong> HSF c<strong>on</strong>structed wetland system<br />
____________________________________________________________________________________________________<br />
<strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35 15<br />
3 m<br />
Effluent<br />
0.40 m<br />
0.8 m<br />
1.3 m
Figure 2 Plant c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong> c<strong>on</strong>structed wetland treat<strong>in</strong>g young leachate (left) and stabilized<br />
leachate (right).<br />
Greenhouse gas emissi<strong>on</strong> dur<strong>in</strong>g the treatment<br />
Greenhouse gases emissi<strong>on</strong> from the HSF unit was measured by close-flux chamber method.<br />
The close flux chamber has 0.3 m diameter and 0.3 m height. The base <strong>of</strong> chamber was made<br />
<strong>of</strong> sta<strong>in</strong>less steel with 0.3 m diameter and 0.125 m height. The gas sampl<strong>in</strong>g was regularly<br />
c<strong>on</strong>ducted dur<strong>in</strong>g 2 hours after the <strong>in</strong>stallati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> chamber dur<strong>in</strong>g which gas c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong><br />
gradient <strong>in</strong> the chamber relates directly to the its emissi<strong>on</strong> rate.<br />
The emissi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> methane gas was ranged between ND level up to 0.71 g/m 2 .d. The maximum<br />
emissi<strong>on</strong> rate was found highest at <strong>in</strong>let z<strong>on</strong>e and reduced al<strong>on</strong>g the flow. The emissi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
greenhouse gas was also found varied seas<strong>on</strong>ally. Dur<strong>in</strong>g ra<strong>in</strong>y seas<strong>on</strong>, the emissi<strong>on</strong> was<br />
found lower as c<strong>on</strong>siderable amount <strong>of</strong> ra<strong>in</strong> diluted the water <strong>in</strong> the system thus led to lower<br />
methane emissi<strong>on</strong>. Methane emissi<strong>on</strong> was comparable higher dur<strong>in</strong>g summer under elevated<br />
temperature.<br />
Introducti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternal recirculati<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong> the system also helped reduc<strong>in</strong>g greenhouse gas<br />
emissi<strong>on</strong>.<br />
More detailed <strong>in</strong>formati<strong>on</strong> can be found <strong>in</strong> Chiemchaisri, C. et al., Leachate treatment and<br />
greenhouse gas emissi<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong> subsurface horiz<strong>on</strong>tal flow c<strong>on</strong>structed wetland. Bioresour.<br />
Technol. (2009), doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2008.12.028.<br />
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16 <strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35
ESTROGEN REMOVAL IN WETLANDS – REVIEW<br />
Dana Milste<strong>in</strong> a , Avital Gasith a and Dror Avisar b<br />
a Faculty <strong>of</strong> Life sciences, Department <strong>of</strong> Zoology, Tel Aviv University, Israel<br />
b Geography and Human Envir<strong>on</strong>ment, Hydrochemistry Laboratory, Tel Aviv University,<br />
Israel<br />
One <strong>of</strong> the key envir<strong>on</strong>mental problems fac<strong>in</strong>g humanity emanates from the widespread and<br />
diverse c<strong>on</strong>tam<strong>in</strong>ati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> freshwater (Schwarzenbach et al., 2006). New c<strong>on</strong>tam<strong>in</strong>ants are<br />
c<strong>on</strong>t<strong>in</strong>uously be<strong>in</strong>g identified and become the focus <strong>of</strong> new <strong>in</strong>vestigati<strong>on</strong>s. Recently, micropollutants<br />
were recognized as a threat to the <strong>in</strong>tegrity <strong>of</strong> aquatic envir<strong>on</strong>ments<br />
(Schwarzenbach et al., 2006). These pollutants are compounds that are present <strong>in</strong> the<br />
envir<strong>on</strong>ment <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>ute c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong>s (micro and nanograms per liter) and thus are hard to<br />
detect. Known micro-pollutants <strong>in</strong>clude chemicals for human use such as pesticides,<br />
pharmaceuticals and cosmetic products. Such c<strong>on</strong>tam<strong>in</strong>ants reach aquatic systems and soils<br />
together with the effluents and sludge that are discharged <strong>in</strong>to the envir<strong>on</strong>ment (Shore et al.,<br />
1993; Ingerslev and Hall<strong>in</strong>g-Sørensen, 2003). The presence <strong>of</strong> estrogens <strong>in</strong> primary and<br />
sec<strong>on</strong>dary effluents reveals that they are not completely removed by c<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>al wastewater<br />
treatments (Kreuz<strong>in</strong>ger et al., 2004; Pawlowski et al., 2004; Kolodziej et al., 2003).<br />
Develop<strong>in</strong>g and implement<strong>in</strong>g cost-effective wastewater treatment technologies to remove<br />
micro-pollutants is therefore a major challenge (Schwarzenbach et al., 2006). Here we review<br />
the current knowledge <strong>on</strong> the removal efficiency <strong>of</strong> estrogens from municipal wastewater<br />
effluent by envir<strong>on</strong>mentally friendly, wetland technology. F<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>of</strong> our recently completed<br />
research are <strong>in</strong>cluded (Milste<strong>in</strong> et al., <strong>in</strong> preparati<strong>on</strong>).<br />
Estrogens<br />
Estrogenic compounds are lipophilic; natural or synthetic molecules. Natural estrogens such<br />
as estr<strong>on</strong>e (E1), 17�-estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3) are synthesized <strong>in</strong> the vertebrate body.<br />
Synthetic estrogens such as 17�- eth<strong>in</strong>ylestradiol (EE2) and mestranol (MeEE2) are used as<br />
pharmaceuticals (e.g., c<strong>on</strong>traceptives). There is evidence that at the low c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong>s at<br />
which these compounds are present <strong>in</strong> the envir<strong>on</strong>ment they <strong>in</strong>terfere with normal endocr<strong>in</strong>e<br />
activity (e.g., Tyler and Jobl<strong>in</strong>g, 2008). One <strong>of</strong> the earliest pieces <strong>of</strong> evidence for the<br />
biological effects <strong>of</strong> estrogenic compounds found <strong>in</strong> the envir<strong>on</strong>ment was that <strong>of</strong> the <strong>in</strong>crease<br />
<strong>of</strong> a precursor molecule for egg yolk synthesis (vitelogen<strong>in</strong>) <strong>in</strong> plasma <strong>of</strong> male fish (e.g.<br />
L<strong>in</strong>telmann et al., 2003). In additi<strong>on</strong>, <strong>in</strong>hibiti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> testicular growth and dim<strong>in</strong>uti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
sec<strong>on</strong>dary sex characteristics <strong>of</strong> male fish were reported (Jobl<strong>in</strong>g et al., 1996; Jobl<strong>in</strong>g et al.,<br />
2002). There is evidence that <strong>in</strong>vertebrates too (e.g. molluscs and crustaceans) are affected by<br />
exposure to estrogenic polluti<strong>on</strong> orig<strong>in</strong>at<strong>in</strong>g from vertebrates (Jobl<strong>in</strong>g et al., 2004; Gagne et<br />
al., 2003; Segner et al., 2003; Czech et al., 2001).<br />
Potential mechanisms for estrogen removal <strong>in</strong> wetlands<br />
Physical, chemical and biological processes attenuate organic compounds <strong>in</strong> wetlands (Imfeld<br />
et al., 2009). These processes <strong>in</strong>volve evaporati<strong>on</strong>, photo-chemical oxidati<strong>on</strong>, sedimentati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
sorpti<strong>on</strong>, and biological degradati<strong>on</strong> mechanisms (e.g., Kadlec, 1992; Imfeld et al., 2009).<br />
Little is known <strong>on</strong> the relative c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> each mechanism to the removal <strong>of</strong> organic<br />
compounds (Imfeld et al., 2009). Moreover, the relative importance <strong>of</strong> a particular process<br />
can be expected to vary, depend<strong>in</strong>g <strong>on</strong> system attributes such as wastewater quality, flow<br />
pattern (surface flow, sub-surface, horiz<strong>on</strong>tal or vertical flow), operati<strong>on</strong>al variables (e.g.<br />
____________________________________________________________________________________________________<br />
<strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35 17
flow regime, hydraulic retenti<strong>on</strong> time), soil matrix, vegetati<strong>on</strong> type and density, and<br />
envir<strong>on</strong>mental c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s such as temperature, oxygen regime, and solar irradiati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Estrogens are relatively hydrophobic compounds (log Kow 2.81-4.67), thus <strong>on</strong>e <strong>of</strong> the<br />
mechanisms by which they can be removed is sorpti<strong>on</strong> to hydrophobic surfaces (e.g., organic<br />
rich soils; White et al., 2006; Matamoros and Bay<strong>on</strong>a, 2008). Similar to other organic<br />
compounds, estrogens are also exploited and degraded by microorganisms (e.g., Matamoros<br />
and Bay<strong>on</strong>a, 2008; Imfeld et al., 2009). Another possible mechanism for estrogen breakdown<br />
is photo-degradati<strong>on</strong>; however this is relevant <strong>on</strong>ly to surface flow wetlands, particularly<br />
shallow and clear <strong>on</strong>es (White et al., 2006). The low vapor pressure <strong>of</strong> estrogens makes<br />
evaporati<strong>on</strong> a less probable mechanism for remov<strong>in</strong>g them <strong>in</strong> wetlands (Ingerslev and<br />
Hall<strong>in</strong>g-Sørensen, 2003).<br />
Evidence for estrogen removal <strong>in</strong> wetland systems<br />
Elim<strong>in</strong>ati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> estrogenic compounds from wastewater is expressed either by decrease <strong>in</strong><br />
c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong> or by decl<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong> estrogenic activity (estrogenicity). Here we present the data for<br />
different types <strong>of</strong> c<strong>on</strong>structed wetlands, <strong>in</strong> order <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g rate <strong>of</strong> attenuati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Surface flow wetlands (SF)<br />
Data <strong>on</strong> removal efficiency <strong>of</strong> estrogens or estrogenicity <strong>in</strong> surface-flow wetlands are<br />
c<strong>on</strong>flict<strong>in</strong>g. Some reports c<strong>on</strong>tend that there is no or little attenuati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> estrogens, while<br />
others report measurable removal. Insignificant removal <strong>of</strong> estrogenic activity was<br />
dem<strong>on</strong>strated for example <strong>in</strong> the Prado wetland (Riverside, California; Xie et al., 2004)<br />
treat<strong>in</strong>g the water <strong>of</strong> the Santa Ana River that receives tertiary-treated effluent (Bachand and<br />
Horne, 2000). The river water was discharged <strong>in</strong>to 50 shallow SF p<strong>on</strong>ds (average depth 0.75<br />
to 0.92m) with average discharge <strong>of</strong> 3.6m 3 /s, and hydraulic retenti<strong>on</strong> time (HRT) <strong>of</strong> 6 days.<br />
No difference <strong>in</strong> esterogenicity (<strong>in</strong> vivo ra<strong>in</strong>bow trout vitellogen<strong>in</strong> expressi<strong>on</strong> and <strong>in</strong> vitro<br />
yeast estrogen screen<strong>in</strong>g assays) was found between river water enter<strong>in</strong>g and leav<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
Prado wetland. Persistence <strong>of</strong> estrogenic compounds (E2, E1; maximum c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> 4<br />
and 12 ng/l, respectively) was also found <strong>in</strong> shallow <strong>in</strong>terc<strong>on</strong>nected eng<strong>in</strong>eered p<strong>on</strong>ds<br />
receiv<strong>in</strong>g municipal sec<strong>on</strong>dary effluent with an HRT <strong>of</strong> 6-7 days (Kolodziej et al., 2003). In a<br />
study <strong>in</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>ois, Peters<strong>on</strong> and Lann<strong>in</strong>g (2009) reported the failure <strong>of</strong> an SF system (3<br />
c<strong>on</strong>secutive cells, 6X15X1.2m, each with a variety <strong>of</strong> emergent and float<strong>in</strong>g macrophytes),<br />
receiv<strong>in</strong>g sec<strong>on</strong>dary municipal effluent (ca. 11.4 m 3 /day; 4 days mean HRT), to significantly<br />
remove E2 and E1 (mean <strong>in</strong>fluent c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong> 32.8-55.5 and 73.6-74.8 ng/l, respectively).<br />
The authors found <strong>on</strong>ly poor removal <strong>of</strong> E2 (13%) and failure to remove E1 <strong>in</strong> a similar<br />
surface flow system that had <strong>on</strong>ly float<strong>in</strong>g aquatic plants (duckweed and algae). Difference <strong>in</strong><br />
the removal <strong>of</strong> E2 by the above SF systems was attributed to different plant compositi<strong>on</strong>. We<br />
exam<strong>in</strong>ed removal <strong>of</strong> E2 and E1 <strong>in</strong> an hybrid wetland <strong>in</strong> Israel where an SF p<strong>on</strong>d (25m 2 ,<br />
depth – 0.55m, a variety <strong>of</strong> emergent and submerged macrophytes; discharge 12m 3 /day;<br />
calculated HRT – ca 15 hrs) provided f<strong>in</strong>al treatment (Milste<strong>in</strong> et al., <strong>in</strong> preparati<strong>on</strong>). We too<br />
found no significant removal <strong>of</strong> E2 (<strong>in</strong>fluent c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> E2 2.7ng/l; E1 was below<br />
detecti<strong>on</strong> limit <strong>of</strong>
Prado wetland (Xie et al., 2004) by the relatively sparser vegetati<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong> the latter. They<br />
suggest that the vegetati<strong>on</strong> provides a surface area for bi<strong>of</strong>ilm development, <strong>on</strong> which<br />
biodegradati<strong>on</strong> and sorpti<strong>on</strong> occur. In a study <strong>in</strong> north-central Texas, Hemm<strong>in</strong>g et al. (2001)<br />
reported removal <strong>of</strong> estrogenicity (vitellogen<strong>in</strong> expressi<strong>on</strong>) from municipal effluent flow<strong>in</strong>g<br />
through an SF wetland. In that study wastewater effluent (activated sludge treatment) entered<br />
a 46X46m wetland separated <strong>in</strong>to lanes. Lane depth varied from a few centimeters near the<br />
<strong>in</strong>flow to 0.6m at the outflow (average discharge rate ca. 3m 3 /h; average HRT <strong>of</strong> 4.3 days).<br />
The system c<strong>on</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed a variety <strong>of</strong> emergent and float<strong>in</strong>g macrophytes. The authors reported<br />
significantly lower levels <strong>of</strong> estergenicity (vitellogen <strong>in</strong> plasma <strong>of</strong> male fathead m<strong>in</strong>now -<br />
Pimephales promelas) <strong>in</strong> the wetland effluent relative to the <strong>in</strong>fluent. High removal<br />
efficiency <strong>of</strong> E2 and EE2 (75 and 89%, respectively) was reported <strong>in</strong> a study <strong>in</strong> an SF<br />
wetland <strong>in</strong> California treat<strong>in</strong>g sec<strong>on</strong>dary effluent (Huang and Sedlak, 2001). No details <strong>of</strong><br />
wetland attributes were given. The authors attribute estrogen attenuati<strong>on</strong> to "physical and<br />
biological processes".<br />
Horiz<strong>on</strong>tal sub-surface flow wetlands (HSSF)<br />
We found no significant attenuati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> E2 (<strong>in</strong>fluent c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong> 2.1 ng/l) <strong>in</strong> a plant-free,<br />
HSSF cell (area - ca. 30m 2 , depth – 0.55m, discharge 12m 3 /day; calculated HRT – ca. 16 hrs;<br />
Milste<strong>in</strong> et al., <strong>in</strong> preparati<strong>on</strong>). Peters<strong>on</strong> and Lann<strong>in</strong>g (2009) reported 27% attenuati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> E2<br />
and failure <strong>of</strong> removal <strong>of</strong> E1 <strong>in</strong> an HSSF with a variety <strong>of</strong> emergent macrophytes (system<br />
dimensi<strong>on</strong>, discharge and hydraulic retenti<strong>on</strong> time as described above for the SF systems).<br />
Accord<strong>in</strong>g to the authors, adsorpti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> E2 and transformati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> E2 to E1 appear to be the<br />
attenuati<strong>on</strong> mechanisms. In a study c<strong>on</strong>ducted <strong>in</strong> Italy, Masi et al., (2004) found estrogen<br />
attenuati<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong> a hybrid reed bed system with an HSSF cell (160m 2 , depth 0.7m) followed by a<br />
vertical sub-surface flow bed. The CW system received primary effluent from a medium-size<br />
hotel (discharge <strong>of</strong> 17-33 m 3 / -E2 and EE2)<br />
ranged from 164 to 259ng/l. Estrogen c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong> the HSSF effluent was at least an<br />
order <strong>of</strong> magnitude lower (below detecti<strong>on</strong> limit <strong>of</strong> 15ng/l).<br />
Vertical sub-surface flow wetlands (VSSF)<br />
In a study c<strong>on</strong>ducted <strong>in</strong> Japan, S<strong>on</strong>g et al., (2009) exam<strong>in</strong>ed estrogen attenuati<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong> a VSSF<br />
microcosm tank system (0.5X0.3m) with different depth (7.5, 30, 60cm). The tanks were<br />
planted with comm<strong>on</strong> reed and received tertiary municipal effluent, <strong>in</strong>termittently (15m<strong>in</strong>.<br />
<strong>in</strong>tervals, flux <strong>of</strong> 0.15m 3 /m 2 /day, theoretical HRT <strong>of</strong> 3.1h). The <strong>in</strong>fluent c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> E1,<br />
E2 and EE2, was 0.4-10.5, 1.4–9.1, and 0.6-6.6ng/l, respectively. They found an average<br />
attenuati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> ca. 68 (±28), 84 (±15) and 75% (±18) <strong>of</strong> E1, E2 and EE2, respectively, <strong>in</strong> a<br />
tank system filled with a 7.5cm sand layer (porosity – 26%). The authors claim that the<br />
removal efficiency <strong>of</strong> estrogens <strong>in</strong> tanks with a deeper sand layer (30 and 60cm) was lower,<br />
despite l<strong>on</strong>ger residence time (12.4 and 24.8hrs, respectively). They attributed most <strong>of</strong> the<br />
estrogen attenuati<strong>on</strong> to biotic processes <strong>of</strong> microbial degradati<strong>on</strong> and plant uptake, and <strong>on</strong>ly a<br />
little to adsorpti<strong>on</strong>. In our recent study (Milste<strong>in</strong> et al., <strong>in</strong> preparati<strong>on</strong>) we compared estrogen<br />
attenuati<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong> mature (4 year) VSSF cells with and without vegetati<strong>on</strong>. The vegetati<strong>on</strong><br />
c<strong>on</strong>sisted <strong>of</strong> dense paper reed (Cyperus papyrus), or dense Bermuda grass (Cynod<strong>on</strong><br />
dactyl<strong>on</strong>). The cells (ca. 5X6m, depth 0.55m) received sec<strong>on</strong>dary municipal effluent,<br />
<strong>in</strong>termittently (1 hr <strong>in</strong>tervals, discharge <strong>of</strong> 12m 3 /day, HRT <strong>of</strong> ca. 3hrs). Influent E1 and E2<br />
c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong> were 20.5±7.7 and 7.7±3.1 ng/l, respectively. We found similar high<br />
attenuati<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong> the vegetated as well as the plant-free cells. More than 90% <strong>of</strong> E1 was removed<br />
(to below detecti<strong>on</strong> limit -2ng/l) and ca. 60% <strong>of</strong> E2. In all cells total estrogen removal<br />
(E2+E1) was >80%. We also c<strong>on</strong>ducted c<strong>on</strong>trolled laboratory experiments to exam<strong>in</strong>e<br />
estrogen biotransformati<strong>on</strong> under aerobic and hypoxic c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s. Estrogens (E1, E2, E3 or<br />
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<strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35 19
EE2) were spiked <strong>in</strong>to vessels c<strong>on</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>i<br />
with double-distilled water supplemented with nutrients (HACH BOD nutrient cat. No.<br />
14861-66, APHA formulati<strong>on</strong>), <strong>in</strong> the presence or absence <strong>of</strong> wetland bi<strong>of</strong>ilm (1.5g wetland<br />
gravel). Significant removal <strong>of</strong> estrogens was found <strong>on</strong>ly <strong>in</strong> the presence <strong>of</strong> wetland bi<strong>of</strong>ilm<br />
and was highest under aerobic c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s. For example, aerobic half-life <strong>of</strong> E2 <strong>in</strong> filtered<br />
sec<strong>on</strong>dary effluents and <strong>in</strong> water supplemented with nutrients were 48 and 36hrs,<br />
respectively, whereas it was an order <strong>of</strong> magnitude l<strong>on</strong>ger under hypoxic c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
Biotransformati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> E2 <strong>in</strong> the presence <strong>of</strong> wetland bi<strong>of</strong>ilm was evident by the appearance<br />
and accumulati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> E1 <strong>in</strong> the medium. Seven and 15% removal <strong>of</strong> total estrogens (E2+E1)<br />
was found under aerobic c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s, <strong>in</strong> water and filtered effluent, respectively, whereas the<br />
c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> estrogens under hypoxic c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s rema<strong>in</strong>ed unchanged.<br />
Discussi<strong>on</strong> and c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
Only a few studies <strong>on</strong> the removal <strong>of</strong> estrogens or estrogenicity from municipal effluent by<br />
wetland systems have been reported, all from 2000 <strong>on</strong> (7 <strong>on</strong> SF and 4 <strong>on</strong> SSF). The estrogens<br />
exam<strong>in</strong>ed are mostly the natural <strong>on</strong>es E2 and E1 and a synthetic <strong>on</strong>e EE2. These estrogens<br />
were comm<strong>on</strong>ly found <strong>in</strong> domestic sewage effluent and are c<strong>on</strong>sidered the most potent <strong>on</strong>es<br />
am<strong>on</strong>g the endocr<strong>in</strong>e disruptors (e.g. Khanal et al., 2006).<br />
In most cases direct evidence for the pathway <strong>of</strong> estrogen removal is lack<strong>in</strong>g. Measurable<br />
attenuati<strong>on</strong> as well as failure <strong>of</strong> significant removal <strong>of</strong> estrogens was reported <strong>in</strong> SF wetlands.<br />
The attenuati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> estrogens <strong>in</strong> SF is attributed mostly to adsorpti<strong>on</strong> and biotransformati<strong>on</strong>. It<br />
is suggested that <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g vegetati<strong>on</strong> density will improve estrogen removal by provid<strong>in</strong>g<br />
greater surface area for bi<strong>of</strong>ilm development, enhanc<strong>in</strong>g adsorpti<strong>on</strong> and biotransformati<strong>on</strong><br />
processes (Brix, 1997; Gray and Sedlak, 2005). Decreas<strong>in</strong>g wetland depth so that more water<br />
flows through the roots and sediments as well as <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g hydraulic retenti<strong>on</strong> time were<br />
also recommended (Gray and Sedlak, 2005). However, achiev<strong>in</strong>g high removal <strong>of</strong> estrogens<br />
by the latter will require an HRT <strong>of</strong> m<strong>on</strong>ths (Metamoros and Bay<strong>on</strong>a, 2008), mak<strong>in</strong>g most SF<br />
CW impractical. Additi<strong>on</strong>al improvement <strong>of</strong> estrogen removal <strong>in</strong> SF wetlands can be atta<strong>in</strong>ed<br />
by enhanc<strong>in</strong>g oxygenati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the system to support a higher rate <strong>of</strong> biodegradati<strong>on</strong><br />
(Laboratory experiments, Milste<strong>in</strong> et al., <strong>in</strong> preparati<strong>on</strong>; Lee and Liu, 2002; Andersen et al.,<br />
2004). We found no evidence for removal <strong>of</strong> estrogens <strong>in</strong> SF CW by photo-degradati<strong>on</strong>. In an<br />
experiment <strong>in</strong> which E2 was dissolved <strong>in</strong> sec<strong>on</strong>dary effluent and exposed to sunlight for<br />
24hrs <strong>in</strong> open glass beakers, <strong>on</strong>ly 10% was photo-degraded, compared to n<strong>on</strong>e <strong>in</strong> the dark<br />
(Mansell et al., 2004). Little or no photo-degradati<strong>on</strong> may be expected <strong>in</strong> turbid or shaded SF<br />
systems (Gray and Sedlak, 2005; White et al., 2006). Exist<strong>in</strong>g evidence suggests that <strong>in</strong> subsurface<br />
flow wetlands estrogens are mostly attenuated under aerobic c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s by<br />
biotransformati<strong>on</strong> and degradati<strong>on</strong> (S<strong>on</strong>g et al., 2009; Milste<strong>in</strong> et al., <strong>in</strong> preparati<strong>on</strong>). This<br />
c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong> is supported by f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs that <strong>in</strong> c<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>al wastewater treatment plants too,<br />
estrogenic compounds are mostly degraded under aerobic, nitrify<strong>in</strong>g c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s (e.g., Liu et<br />
al., 2009). Indeed, high estrogen removal with<strong>in</strong> a short HRT (hours) was found <strong>in</strong> vertical<br />
flow wetlands, which are characterized by aerobic c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s. Lower removal rate may be<br />
expected <strong>in</strong> horiz<strong>on</strong>tal systems which are characterized by a network <strong>of</strong> aerobic, hypoxic and<br />
anoxic z<strong>on</strong>es (Vymazal, 2003). Indeed, no attenuati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> estrogens was recorded <strong>in</strong> both the<br />
HSSF and SF systems, where hypoxic c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s prevailed (Peters<strong>on</strong> and Lann<strong>in</strong>g, 2009;<br />
Milste<strong>in</strong> et al., <strong>in</strong> preparati<strong>on</strong>). This c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong> is also supported by the observati<strong>on</strong> that<br />
estrogen attenuati<strong>on</strong> was reduced <strong>in</strong> vertical saturated wetlands, compared to that measured <strong>in</strong><br />
unsaturated c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s (S<strong>on</strong>g et al., 2009). High (>90%) removal <strong>of</strong> estrogen <strong>in</strong> HSSF CW<br />
reported by Masi et al. (2004) c<strong>on</strong>tradicts the above c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>. However, Masi et al. (2004)<br />
exam<strong>in</strong>ed estrogen removal from primary effluent <strong>in</strong> which estrogen c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong> as well as<br />
the c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> suspended solids was extremely high. It is highly probable that the<br />
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20 <strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35
estrogens were adsorbed to suspended solids and removed by TSS filtrati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
sedimentati<strong>on</strong>. It should be noted that the detecti<strong>on</strong> limit <strong>of</strong> estrogens <strong>in</strong> Masi et al.‘s study<br />
was 15ng/l; hence the presence <strong>of</strong> high residual c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> estrogens <strong>in</strong> the HSSF<br />
effluent is possible.<br />
Although high and rapid attenuati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> estrogens <strong>in</strong> wetlands is attributed ma<strong>in</strong>ly to biotic<br />
processes, adsorpti<strong>on</strong> cannot be ruled out as an important mechanism under certa<strong>in</strong><br />
c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s. For example, <strong>in</strong> wetlands with a high surface area and rich <strong>in</strong> organic substrate<br />
(Ingerslev and Hall<strong>in</strong>g-Sørensen, 2003; White et al., 2006).<br />
The role played by the vegetati<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong> estrogen removal is unclear. Higher estrogen<br />
removal <strong>in</strong> SF wetlands is attributed to vegetati<strong>on</strong> (Gray and Sedlak, 2005; Peters<strong>on</strong> and<br />
Lann<strong>in</strong>g, 2009). S<strong>on</strong>g et al., (2009) suggest that the vegetati<strong>on</strong> enhances removal efficiency<br />
<strong>in</strong> VSSF by provid<strong>in</strong>g a dense root system with a large surface area for bi<strong>of</strong>ilm development<br />
and pollutant adsorpti<strong>on</strong>. Moreover, they argue that the vegetati<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong>creases oxygen<br />
c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong> the rhizosphere, releases exudates that are exploited by estrogen degrad<strong>in</strong>g<br />
microorganisms, and takes up and assimilates estrogens <strong>in</strong> plant tissue. In c<strong>on</strong>trast, we have<br />
dem<strong>on</strong>strated a similar efficiency <strong>of</strong> estrogen removal <strong>in</strong> plant-free and densely vegetated<br />
VSSF cells (Milste<strong>in</strong> et al., <strong>in</strong> preparati<strong>on</strong>). We therefore suggest that the bi<strong>of</strong>ilm coat<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
wetland gravel <strong>in</strong> VSSF systems can account for most estrogen transformati<strong>on</strong> and<br />
degradati<strong>on</strong> activity.<br />
More studies are needed to exam<strong>in</strong>e estrogen removal efficiency, particularly <strong>in</strong> full-scale<br />
wetlands. Furthermore, studies are needed to elucidate the removal mechanisms and their<br />
significance <strong>in</strong> different wetlands types, and under different operati<strong>on</strong> variables and climate<br />
c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s. Particular attenti<strong>on</strong> should be given to quantify<strong>in</strong>g the c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the<br />
vegetati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
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Jobl<strong>in</strong>g, S., N. Beresford, M. Nolan, T. Rodgers-Gray, G.C. Brighty, J.P. Sumpter and C.R.<br />
Tyler (2002). Altered sexual maturati<strong>on</strong> and gamete producti<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong> wild Roach (Rutilus<br />
rutilus) liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> rivers that receive treated sewage effluents. Biology <strong>of</strong> Reproducti<strong>on</strong>,<br />
66:272-281.<br />
Jobl<strong>in</strong>g, S., D. Casey, T. Rodgers-Gray, J. Oehlmann, U. Schulte-Oehlmann, S. Pawlowski,<br />
T. Baunbeck. A.P. Turner, and C.R. Tyler. (2004). Comparative resp<strong>on</strong>ses <strong>of</strong> mollusks<br />
and fish to envir<strong>on</strong>mental estrogens and an estrogenic effluent. Aquatic Toxicology,<br />
66:207-222.<br />
Kadlec, R.H. (1992). Hydrological factors <strong>in</strong> wetland water treatment. In: Hammer, D.A.<br />
(ed.), C<strong>on</strong>structed Wetland for Wastewater Treatment: Municipal, Industrial and<br />
Agricultural. Lewis Publishers, Chelsea, USA, pp. 25-29.<br />
Khanal, S.K., B. Xie, M.L. Thomps<strong>on</strong>, S. Sung, S-K. Ong, and J. Van Leeuwen (2006). Fate,<br />
transport and biodegradati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> natural estrogens <strong>in</strong> the envir<strong>on</strong>ment and eng<strong>in</strong>eered<br />
systems. Envir<strong>on</strong>mental Science and Technology, 40(21):6537-6546.<br />
Kolodziej, E.P., J.L. Gray and D.L. Sedlak. (2003). Quantificati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> steroid horm<strong>on</strong>es with<br />
pherom<strong>on</strong>al properties <strong>in</strong> municipal wastewater effluents. Envir<strong>on</strong>mental Toxicology and<br />
Chemistry, 22: 2622-2629.<br />
Kreuz<strong>in</strong>ger N, M. Clara, B. Strenn and H. Kroiss (2004). Relevance <strong>of</strong> the sludge retenti<strong>on</strong><br />
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endocr<strong>in</strong>e disruptors and pharmaceuticals from wastewater. <strong>Water</strong> Science and<br />
Technology, 50(5):149–156.<br />
Lee, H-B and -estradiol and its metabolites by sewage<br />
bacteria. <strong>Water</strong>, Air and Soil Polluti<strong>on</strong>, 134:353-368.<br />
L<strong>in</strong>telmann, J., A. Katayama, N. Kurihara, L. Shore and A. Wenzel (2003). Endocr<strong>in</strong>e<br />
disruptors <strong>in</strong> the envir<strong>on</strong>ment (IUPAC Technical report). Pure and Applied Chemistry,<br />
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Liu, Z.H., Y. Kanjo, and S. Mizutani (2009). Removal mechanisms for endocr<strong>in</strong>e disrupt<strong>in</strong>g<br />
compounds (EDCs) <strong>in</strong> wastewater treatment — physical means, biodegradati<strong>on</strong>, and<br />
chemical advanced oxidati<strong>on</strong>: A review. Science <strong>of</strong> the Total Envir<strong>on</strong>ment, 407:731-748.<br />
Mansell, J., J.E. Drewes and T. Rauch (2004). Removal mechanisms <strong>of</strong> endocr<strong>in</strong>e disrupt<strong>in</strong>g<br />
compounds (steroids) dur<strong>in</strong>g soil aquifer treatment. <strong>Water</strong> Science and Technology,<br />
50(2):229-237.<br />
Masi, F., G. C<strong>on</strong>te, L. Lepri, T. Martell<strong>in</strong>i, and M. Del Bubba (2004). Endocr<strong>in</strong>e disrupt<strong>in</strong>g<br />
chemicals (EDCs) and pathogen removal <strong>in</strong> an hybrid CW system for a tourist facility<br />
wastewater treatment and reuse. In: Proceed<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>of</strong> the 9 th Internati<strong>on</strong>al C<strong>on</strong>ference <strong>on</strong><br />
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22 <strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35
Matamoros, V. and J.M. Bay<strong>on</strong>a (2008). Behavior <strong>of</strong> emerg<strong>in</strong>g pollutants <strong>in</strong> c<strong>on</strong>structed<br />
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Berl<strong>in</strong> Heidelberg.<br />
Milste<strong>in</strong>, D., D. Avisar and A. Gasith. (In preparati<strong>on</strong>). Biotransformati<strong>on</strong> and biodegradati<strong>on</strong><br />
<strong>of</strong> estrogens by wetland bacteria and removal <strong>in</strong> pilot scale c<strong>on</strong>structed wetland <strong>in</strong> Israel.<br />
Pawlowski, S., T.A. Ternes, M. B<strong>on</strong>erz, A.C. Rastall, L. Erd<strong>in</strong>ger and T. Braunbeck. (2004).<br />
Estrogenicity <strong>of</strong> solid phase-extracted water samples from two municipal sewage<br />
treatment plant effluents and river Rh<strong>in</strong>e water us<strong>in</strong>g the yeast estrogen screen.<br />
Toxicology <strong>in</strong> Vitro, 18:129-138.<br />
Peters<strong>on</strong>, E.W and A. Lann<strong>in</strong>g. (2009). Effectiveness <strong>of</strong> pilot-scale wetland designs <strong>in</strong><br />
remov<strong>in</strong>g estrogenic compounds from municipal wastewater plant effluent.<br />
Envir<strong>on</strong>mental Geosciences, 16 (2):61-69.<br />
Schwarzenbach, R.P., B.I. Escher, K. Fenner, T.B. H<strong>of</strong>stetter, C. A. Johns<strong>on</strong>, U. v<strong>on</strong> Gunten<br />
and B. Wehrli (2006). The Challenges <strong>of</strong> micropollutants <strong>in</strong> aquatic systems. Science,<br />
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effect <strong>in</strong> aquatic vertebrates and <strong>in</strong>vertebrates: report from the European IDEA project.<br />
Ecotoxicology and Envir<strong>on</strong>mental Safety, 54:302-314.<br />
Shore, L.S., M. Gurevitz, and M. Shemesh (1993). Estrogen as an envir<strong>on</strong>mental pollutant.<br />
Bullet<strong>in</strong> <strong>of</strong> Envir<strong>on</strong>mental C<strong>on</strong>tam<strong>in</strong>ati<strong>on</strong> and Toxicology, 51:361-366.<br />
S<strong>on</strong>g, H-L., K. Nakano, T. Taniguchi, M. Nomura and O. Nishimura (2009). Estrogen<br />
removal from treated municipal effluent <strong>in</strong> small-scale c<strong>on</strong>structed wetland with different<br />
depth. Bioresource Technology, 100:2945–2951.<br />
Tyler, C.R.. and S. Jobl<strong>in</strong>g. (2008). Roach, sex, and gender-bend<strong>in</strong>g chemicals: The<br />
fem<strong>in</strong>izati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> wild fish <strong>in</strong> English rivers. BioScience, 58(11):1051-1059.<br />
Vymazal, J. (2003). Types <strong>of</strong> c<strong>on</strong>structed wetlands. In. Dias, V. and Vymazal, J. (eds). 1 st<br />
<strong>in</strong>ternati<strong>on</strong>al sem<strong>in</strong>ar <strong>on</strong> the use <strong>of</strong> aquatic macrophytes for wastewater treatment <strong>in</strong><br />
c<strong>on</strong>structed wetlands. Lisboa, Portugal. pp.35-79.<br />
White, J.R., M.A. Belm<strong>on</strong>t and C.D. Metcalfe (2006). Pharmaceuticals compounds <strong>in</strong><br />
wastewater: wetland treatment as a potential soluti<strong>on</strong>. The Scientific World Journal,<br />
6:1731-1736.<br />
Xie, L., Y. Sapozhnikova, O. Bawardi and D. Schlenk. (2004). Evaluati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> wetland and<br />
tertiary wastewater treatments for estrogenicity us<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> vivo and <strong>in</strong> vitro assays.<br />
Archives <strong>of</strong> Envir<strong>on</strong>mental C<strong>on</strong>tam<strong>in</strong>ati<strong>on</strong> and Toxicology, 48: 81-86.<br />
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<strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35 23
UPDATE ON CONSTRUCTED WETLAND APPLICATIONS IN ITALY<br />
Fabio Masi, PhD<br />
IRIDRA Srl, Via La Marmora 51, 50121, Florence, Italy. (Email: masi@iridra.com)<br />
Introducti<strong>on</strong>: water situati<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong> Italy<br />
Italy occupies a l<strong>on</strong>g, boot-shaped pen<strong>in</strong>sula, with a total area <strong>of</strong> 301,318 km² (<strong>of</strong> which 2,4<br />
% is water), surrounded <strong>on</strong> the west by the Tyrrhenian Sea and <strong>on</strong> the east by the Adriatic<br />
Sea. It is bounded by France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia to the north. The Apenn<strong>in</strong>e<br />
Mounta<strong>in</strong>s form the pen<strong>in</strong>sula‘s backb<strong>on</strong>e; the Alps form its northern boundary. The largest<br />
<strong>of</strong> its northern lakes is Garda (143 sq mi; 370 km²); the Po, its pr<strong>in</strong>cipal river, flows from the<br />
Alps <strong>on</strong> Italy‘s western border and crosses the Padan pla<strong>in</strong> to the Adriatic Sea. Several<br />
islands form part <strong>of</strong> Italy; the largest are Sicily (9,926 sq mi; 25,708 km²) and Sard<strong>in</strong>ia (9,301<br />
sq mi; 24,090 km²). The Feb 2007 estimate for Populati<strong>on</strong> is 59,206,382 with a Density <strong>of</strong><br />
196.2/km². The climate <strong>in</strong> Italy is highly diverse and can be far from the stereotypical<br />
Mediterranean climate depend<strong>in</strong>g <strong>on</strong> the locati<strong>on</strong>. Most <strong>of</strong> the <strong>in</strong>land northern areas <strong>of</strong> Italy<br />
(for example Tur<strong>in</strong>, Milan, and Bologna) have a c<strong>on</strong>t<strong>in</strong>ental climate <strong>of</strong>ten classified as Humid<br />
subtropical climate (Köppen climate classificati<strong>on</strong> Cfa). The coastal areas <strong>of</strong> Liguria and<br />
most <strong>of</strong> the pen<strong>in</strong>sula south <strong>of</strong> Florence generally fit the Mediterranean stereotype (Köppen<br />
climate classificati<strong>on</strong> Csa). The coastal areas <strong>of</strong> the pen<strong>in</strong>sula can be very different from the<br />
<strong>in</strong>terior higher altitudes and valleys, particularly dur<strong>in</strong>g the w<strong>in</strong>ter m<strong>on</strong>ths when the higher<br />
altitudes tend to be cold, wet, and <strong>of</strong>ten snowy. The coastal regi<strong>on</strong>s have mild w<strong>in</strong>ters and<br />
warm and generally dry summers, although lowland valleys can be quite hot <strong>in</strong> summer.<br />
Accord<strong>in</strong>g to the last available data given by the Nati<strong>on</strong>al Institute <strong>on</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Research (IRSA)<br />
water precipitati<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong> Italy is huge: it ranges from 600 to 1200 mm/year corresp<strong>on</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g to 296<br />
billi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> cubic meters that, after evapo-transpirati<strong>on</strong>, leaves 155 billi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>of</strong> cubic meters <strong>of</strong><br />
surface flow and 13 billi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> cubic meters <strong>of</strong> underground flow. Total ―renewable‖ water<br />
resources, therefore, would be 168 billi<strong>on</strong> cubic meters per year, which means an availability<br />
―pro-capite‖ <strong>of</strong> 2800 cubic meters per pers<strong>on</strong>, larger than UK or Germany. However, water<br />
precipitati<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong> Italy occurs ma<strong>in</strong>ly dur<strong>in</strong>g spr<strong>in</strong>g and fall, therefore, to use surface flow, a<br />
large buffer volume – able to store water dur<strong>in</strong>g ra<strong>in</strong>y seas<strong>on</strong>s – would be needed. Given the<br />
exist<strong>in</strong>g storage capacity al<strong>on</strong>g Italian rivers, the amount <strong>of</strong> available water resources is<br />
around 50 billi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>of</strong> cubic meters per year. Such distributi<strong>on</strong> is str<strong>on</strong>gly uneven: water<br />
availability ―per capita‖ ranges between 2000 and 200 m 3 /year. Dryer Regi<strong>on</strong>s, as Puglia and<br />
Sicily had developed <strong>in</strong> the past important technologies for ra<strong>in</strong> water harvest<strong>in</strong>g and ―wise<br />
use‖ <strong>of</strong> water. However, <strong>in</strong> the first years <strong>of</strong> the last century huge water transfer networks<br />
have been realized, such as the ―Acquedotto Pugliese‖ that br<strong>in</strong>gs large amount <strong>of</strong> water from<br />
Lucania to Puglia. Therefore, orig<strong>in</strong>al local water storage systems have very <strong>of</strong>ten got out <strong>of</strong><br />
use.<br />
Data <strong>on</strong> water use <strong>in</strong> Italy are ma<strong>in</strong>ly based <strong>on</strong> estimati<strong>on</strong>s, except for the municipal use,<br />
that is well known. The last estimati<strong>on</strong> available for the whole water c<strong>on</strong>sumpti<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong> the<br />
country dates from 1999 and is summarized <strong>in</strong> table 1.<br />
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24 <strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35
Table 1 – <strong>Water</strong> withdrawal <strong>in</strong> Italy (milli<strong>on</strong>s <strong>of</strong> m 3 /year)<br />
Municipal Industrial Irrigati<strong>on</strong> Energy Total<br />
North West 2.268 3.520 8.193 1.863 15.844<br />
North East 1.453 1.648 5.277 2.538 10.915<br />
Center 1.618 1.482 970 72 4.142<br />
South 1.803 879 3.506 36 6.223<br />
Islands 798 457 2.191 - 3.447<br />
Italy 7.940 7.986 20.136 4.509 40.571<br />
Source: IRSA-CNR 1999<br />
Accord<strong>in</strong>g to Nati<strong>on</strong>al Institute <strong>on</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Research (IRSA), around 40 billi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>of</strong> cubic<br />
meters were withdrawn <strong>in</strong> 1999 for the different uses. The estimati<strong>on</strong> d<strong>on</strong>e <strong>in</strong> 1999 was<br />
significantly smaller compared to previous <strong>on</strong>es, where irrigati<strong>on</strong> uses were account<strong>in</strong>g for<br />
more than 25 billi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>of</strong> cubic meters. The new estimati<strong>on</strong> was based <strong>on</strong> data c<strong>on</strong>cern<strong>in</strong>g<br />
irrigated land that, accord<strong>in</strong>g to statistics and remote sens<strong>in</strong>g, is decreas<strong>in</strong>g all over Italy: <strong>in</strong><br />
1988 irrigated land covered around 2.9 milli<strong>on</strong>s hectares, it decreased around 2.7 <strong>in</strong> 1999 and<br />
is now less than 2.5 milli<strong>on</strong>s hectares.<br />
There are no trustable estimati<strong>on</strong>s c<strong>on</strong>cern<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>dustrial water use, however, several<br />
sector studies show that <strong>in</strong>dustrial c<strong>on</strong>sumpti<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong> Italy is decreas<strong>in</strong>g, due to the<br />
delocalisati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> heavy <strong>in</strong>dustry out <strong>of</strong> the nati<strong>on</strong>al borders and to the improved technologies.<br />
It is comm<strong>on</strong>ly agreed am<strong>on</strong>g nati<strong>on</strong>al water experts that <strong>in</strong>dustrial water withdrawal<br />
presently does not exceed 7 milli<strong>on</strong>s <strong>of</strong> cubic meters.<br />
If irrigati<strong>on</strong> and <strong>in</strong>dustrial water use is decreas<strong>in</strong>g country wide, the situati<strong>on</strong> is different<br />
for municipal water use. More recent data (2005) <strong>on</strong> municipal water use are now available,<br />
and show that municipal water withdrawal is still <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g, and it reached 8.7 billi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>of</strong><br />
cubic meters per year, with a ―pro capite‖ c<strong>on</strong>sumpti<strong>on</strong> that ranges between 370 and 165<br />
l/day.<br />
From the qualitative po<strong>in</strong>t <strong>of</strong> view, the situati<strong>on</strong> is aga<strong>in</strong> very differentiated throughout<br />
the Country. Surface water quality is almost never particularly bad, but also almost never<br />
excepti<strong>on</strong>ally good. The largest rivers are normally <strong>in</strong> fair c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s, even if their quality<br />
worsens notably dur<strong>in</strong>g low-flow seas<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
A great number <strong>of</strong> ―black spots‖ c<strong>on</strong>tribute to the general deteriorati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> river quality.<br />
These situati<strong>on</strong>s arise <strong>in</strong> particular when medium or small streams dra<strong>in</strong> areas with high<br />
urban and <strong>in</strong>dustrial c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong>. Am<strong>on</strong>g the most critical cases we can menti<strong>on</strong> the<br />
Lambro-Ol<strong>on</strong>a-Seveso river network – dra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g the area <strong>of</strong> Milan, <strong>on</strong>ly recently equipped<br />
with sewage treatment capacity – the lago<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> Venice, the reaches <strong>of</strong> Po, Arno and Tevere<br />
downstream the cities <strong>of</strong> Tur<strong>in</strong>, Florence and Rome. The presence <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>dustrial districts with<br />
heavy envir<strong>on</strong>mental impact – eg tann<strong>in</strong>g and textile <strong>in</strong>dustry <strong>in</strong> the North, food <strong>in</strong>dustry <strong>in</strong><br />
the South – are also an important cause <strong>of</strong> severe polluti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Given the geographic structure <strong>of</strong> the Country, there are many areas that are vulnerable to<br />
nutrient polluti<strong>on</strong>, <strong>in</strong> particular large lakes <strong>in</strong> northern Italy, artificial reservoirs <strong>in</strong> southern<br />
and <strong>in</strong>sular Italy and the upper Adriatic Sea, to which the rivers dra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g the most densely<br />
populated and <strong>in</strong>dustrialized part <strong>of</strong> the Country flow.<br />
From 1976 <strong>on</strong>, a massive effort has been made <strong>in</strong> order to provide sewage treatment<br />
equipment and address water polluti<strong>on</strong>; this effort, though c<strong>on</strong>siderable, is largely<br />
<strong>in</strong>complete. While 1/3 <strong>of</strong> the polluti<strong>on</strong> load is still not treated, water policy so far has been<br />
able to block, but always never to reverse, the trends <strong>of</strong> worsen<strong>in</strong>g river quality. Some<br />
remarkable results have been obta<strong>in</strong>ed with respect to lakes and even to the Adriatic Sea. In<br />
____________________________________________________________________________________________________<br />
<strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35 25
this last case, for example, end-<strong>of</strong>-pipe treatment and polluti<strong>on</strong> preventi<strong>on</strong> measures have<br />
reduced by 90% the nutrient load discharged <strong>in</strong>to the Sea.<br />
N<strong>on</strong>etheless, biological and chemical quality <strong>of</strong> largest rivers does not show signs <strong>of</strong><br />
improvement; while the number <strong>of</strong> ―unpolluted‖ sites has been dramatically decreas<strong>in</strong>g, thus<br />
show<strong>in</strong>g that water polluti<strong>on</strong> cannot be c<strong>on</strong>sidered as a problem <strong>on</strong>ly <strong>in</strong> highly urbanized<br />
areas.<br />
Emerg<strong>in</strong>g CW projects <strong>in</strong> Italy<br />
Bey<strong>on</strong>d the several hundred CWs for domestic and municipal wastewater (most probably<br />
over 2000 small scale systems, rang<strong>in</strong>g from s<strong>in</strong>gle house to few thousands <strong>in</strong>habitants)<br />
which are currently operat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Italy, there is a rich variety <strong>of</strong> different applicati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>of</strong> CWs<br />
for water polluti<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>trol, like as agricultural run<strong>of</strong>f, some advanced tertiary treatment<br />
plants, raw landfill leachates treatment, highway run<strong>of</strong>f, etc. A particularly successful sector<br />
is the agro-<strong>in</strong>dustrial applicati<strong>on</strong>, especially w<strong>in</strong>ery and dairy wastewater treatment, with<br />
several tenths <strong>of</strong> plants already runn<strong>in</strong>g or <strong>in</strong> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong>. In the most recent period we<br />
observed an <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>terest to stormwater management by the <strong>in</strong>volved adm<strong>in</strong>istrati<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
and <strong>of</strong>ten susta<strong>in</strong>able urban dra<strong>in</strong>age systems, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g c<strong>on</strong>structed wetlands, are c<strong>on</strong>sidered<br />
with high value; <strong>in</strong> this sector, also appliances <strong>of</strong> CWs for CSOs (Comb<strong>in</strong>ed Sewer<br />
Overflows) are f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g a large audience <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>terested technicians, and the first realisati<strong>on</strong>s are<br />
<strong>on</strong> their way to be c<strong>on</strong>cluded so<strong>on</strong>. In the follow<strong>in</strong>g paragraphs you will f<strong>in</strong>d the descripti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
<strong>of</strong> some relevant CW systems, already runn<strong>in</strong>g or under realisati<strong>on</strong>; some <strong>of</strong> them will be part<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Technical Tour programme <strong>in</strong> the next <strong>IWA</strong> 12 th Internati<strong>on</strong>al C<strong>on</strong>ference <strong>on</strong> Wetland<br />
Systems for <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol, which will be held <strong>in</strong> Venice (Italy), 4-9 October 2010.<br />
I wish to apologize for the completely pers<strong>on</strong>al selecti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the cited CW systems and for not<br />
hav<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>serted a huge number <strong>of</strong> applicati<strong>on</strong>s that are currently operat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Italy, surely not<br />
less relevant than the chosen examples. C<strong>on</strong>structed wetlands are represent<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Italy a<br />
promis<strong>in</strong>g sector for new green-ec<strong>on</strong>omy approaches, and there is a grow<strong>in</strong>g trend for the<br />
number <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>volved companies and universities.<br />
Experimental Farm <strong>of</strong> the Faculty <strong>of</strong> Agricultural Sciences, University <strong>of</strong> Padua.<br />
1. <strong>in</strong>tegrated system <strong>of</strong> c<strong>on</strong>trolled dra<strong>in</strong>age and wetland to reduce agricultural water polluti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
The facility, extended over a surface <strong>of</strong> about 6 hectares, reproduces, <strong>on</strong> scale, a typical<br />
agricultural bas<strong>in</strong> <strong>of</strong> the Italian lowlands. The area is divided <strong>in</strong>to 12 plots, where surface and<br />
pipe dra<strong>in</strong>age are managed by free (all the excess water is elim<strong>in</strong>ated) or c<strong>on</strong>trolled (<strong>on</strong>ly the<br />
excess water that can cause problems to crops or soil is elim<strong>in</strong>ated) dra<strong>in</strong>age. The plots<br />
discharge their effluents <strong>in</strong>to a surface flow wetland for further purificati<strong>on</strong> prior to be<br />
diverted <strong>in</strong>to a stream. The experiment is runn<strong>in</strong>g s<strong>in</strong>ce 1996.<br />
2. buffer strips (BS) to c<strong>on</strong>trol agricultural water polluti<strong>on</strong>. The follow<strong>in</strong>g four types <strong>of</strong> BS,<br />
<strong>in</strong>terposed between field and ditch, are studied, <strong>in</strong> comparis<strong>on</strong> with absence <strong>of</strong> BS (N): 3 m<br />
wide, with <strong>on</strong>ly grass cover (Festuca arund<strong>in</strong>acea L.) (3F); 3 m wide, composed <strong>of</strong> <strong>on</strong>e row<br />
<strong>of</strong> regularly alternat<strong>in</strong>g trees (Platanus hybryda Brot.) and shrubs (Viburnum opulus L.)<br />
(31S); 6 m wide, composed <strong>of</strong> a 3 m strip <strong>of</strong> grass and a row <strong>of</strong> trees/shrubs (61S); 6 m wide,<br />
composed <strong>of</strong> two rows <strong>of</strong> trees/shrubs. The experiment, runn<strong>in</strong>g s<strong>in</strong>ce 1988, is the oldest<br />
m<strong>on</strong>itored buffer strip system <strong>in</strong> Italy. Some <strong>of</strong> the most recent papers produced by the Pr<strong>of</strong>.<br />
Maurizio Bor<strong>in</strong>‘s group are related to this experimental <strong>in</strong>stallati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
___________________________________________________________________________<br />
26 <strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35
Integrated system <strong>of</strong> multifuncti<strong>on</strong>al surface wetlands <strong>in</strong> an agricultural farm, Padua<br />
The farm is located nearby the Venice Lago<strong>on</strong>. The system, realized <strong>in</strong> a farm <strong>of</strong> 110<br />
hectares, is composed by 7 bas<strong>in</strong>s treat<strong>in</strong>g surface water before their discharge <strong>in</strong>to the Dese<br />
river very close to the discharge <strong>in</strong> the Venice lago<strong>on</strong>. The total wetland cells surface is<br />
around 12 hectares. The site is enormously rich <strong>in</strong> biodiversity and is an ast<strong>on</strong>ish<strong>in</strong>g example<br />
<strong>of</strong> multi-functi<strong>on</strong>s capacity for wetland systems. Also <strong>in</strong> this case there are published papers<br />
by Bor<strong>in</strong> et al.<br />
Surface flow wetland Cà di Mezzo<br />
The CW system <strong>in</strong> Ca‘ di Mezzo, located <strong>in</strong> the municipality <strong>of</strong> Codevigo, district <strong>of</strong> Padua,<br />
at the borders with the municipality <strong>of</strong> Chioggia, was created a few years ago <strong>in</strong> order to<br />
reduce nutrients c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong> driven <strong>in</strong>to the Venetian Lago<strong>on</strong> by the Altipiano Channel.<br />
The Ca‘ di Mezzo Wetland was designed to collect the m<strong>in</strong>imum stream flow dra<strong>in</strong>ed from a<br />
8700 hectares catchments area that bel<strong>on</strong>gs to the Land Reclamati<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>sortium Adige<br />
Bacchigli<strong>on</strong>e district and is ma<strong>in</strong>ly dest<strong>in</strong>ed to agricultural use. The water flows from the<br />
Altipiano Channel <strong>in</strong>to the wetland through an <strong>in</strong>let structure equipped with check gates and<br />
with a sec<strong>on</strong>d flow stage level c<strong>on</strong>trol system placed <strong>on</strong> a downstream bridge. The water is<br />
then released <strong>in</strong>to the Altipiano Channel through an outlet structure.<br />
The wetland was designed to treat a few hundreds litres per sec<strong>on</strong>d, with a mean water<br />
height that varies from 0.20 to 0.30 m a.s.l. The average water depth is about 1 m. The<br />
wetland is formed by three <strong>in</strong>dependent bas<strong>in</strong>s, c<strong>on</strong>nected by culverts equipped with c<strong>on</strong>trol<br />
structures.<br />
Areas that are ma<strong>in</strong>ly <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> depurati<strong>on</strong> processes are represented by the channel<br />
network and the wide flood pla<strong>in</strong>s z<strong>on</strong>es covered by Phragmites. At the <strong>in</strong>let and outlet <strong>of</strong> the<br />
wetland there are two couples <strong>of</strong> s<strong>on</strong>ic level meters located upstream and downstream the<br />
check gates. Check gates are c<strong>on</strong>trolled by a level measur<strong>in</strong>g sensor, that allows to determ<strong>in</strong>e<br />
stored volumes and <strong>in</strong>let/outlet discharges. <strong>Water</strong> levels are available for remote users thanks<br />
to the Land Reclamati<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>sortium<br />
Adige Bacchigli<strong>on</strong>e automatic network. An accurate estimati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the flow rates is<br />
important not <strong>on</strong>ly to determ<strong>in</strong>e the hydraulic behaviour and the hydraulic residence time, but<br />
also to assess the removed load <strong>of</strong> pollutants.<br />
____________________________________________________________________________________________________<br />
<strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35 27
Fus<strong>in</strong>a CW system – Mestre (Venice)<br />
The Fus<strong>in</strong>a Integrated Project, be<strong>in</strong>g developed by the Veneto Regi<strong>on</strong> together with SIFA<br />
Project F<strong>in</strong>anc<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>in</strong>volves major changes and upgrades to a large wastewater treatment plant<br />
treat<strong>in</strong>g municipal and <strong>in</strong>dustrial wastewater from an extensively populated area and a large<br />
<strong>in</strong>dustrial complex located <strong>on</strong> the edge <strong>of</strong> the Venice lago<strong>on</strong>. A 110-hectars wetland system,<br />
designed by Thetis with the c<strong>on</strong>sultancy <strong>of</strong> CH2M Hill specialists, will represent the f<strong>in</strong>al<br />
polish<strong>in</strong>g step that treats wastewater down to the standards enabl<strong>in</strong>g its reuse by the nearby<br />
<strong>in</strong>dustrial facilities.<br />
When c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> f<strong>in</strong>ishes <strong>in</strong> 2011, the treatment wetlands at Fus<strong>in</strong>a will be <strong>on</strong>e <strong>of</strong>, if not<br />
the largest, <strong>in</strong> Europe. The project has redeveloped a large dredge spoil area result<strong>in</strong>g from<br />
the excavati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the large navigati<strong>on</strong> channel c<strong>on</strong>nect<strong>in</strong>g the nearby Porto Marghera<br />
<strong>in</strong>dustrial facilities to the Adriatic sea and will recreate wetland ecosystem functi<strong>on</strong>s that the<br />
Venice Lago<strong>on</strong> historically lost to development. A visitors‘ center and passive recreati<strong>on</strong><br />
facilities will be <strong>in</strong>corporated to ensure the community benefits from the wetlands. The<br />
wetlands will be a marquee example <strong>of</strong> a susta<strong>in</strong>able soluti<strong>on</strong> to grow<strong>in</strong>g water quality issues<br />
<strong>in</strong> a world-renowned locati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
Initial Fus<strong>in</strong>a Pilot Wetland System was completed <strong>in</strong> Summer 2007, and will be used as<br />
a plant source for the full scale system which is currently under c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong><br />
___________________________________________________________________________<br />
28 <strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35
Rovigo Prov<strong>in</strong>ce Landfill Site Leachates Treatment – Villadose , Rovigo<br />
Ecogest Srl, the company which manage the waste cycle <strong>in</strong> the Rovigo prov<strong>in</strong>ce, has realised<br />
a natural treatment system for solv<strong>in</strong>g their high expenses <strong>in</strong> transport<strong>in</strong>g the leachates<br />
produced <strong>in</strong> their landfill site to a delocalized WWTP; for the difficult nature <strong>of</strong> this k<strong>in</strong>d <strong>of</strong><br />
wastewater the adopted design is also quite complex. The CWs system is a multistage plant<br />
which will be able to treat from 10 to 40 m 3 /d and it‘s composed by: a peat filter, a 2 stages<br />
vertical submerged flow CW, an horiz<strong>on</strong>tal submerged flow CW, a Free <strong>Water</strong> System and<br />
f<strong>in</strong>ally a storage p<strong>on</strong>d. The f<strong>in</strong>al effluent can be pumped back to the landfill for capp<strong>in</strong>g<br />
irrigati<strong>on</strong> or discharged <strong>in</strong> a small ditch. The total area <strong>of</strong> the treatment plant is about 5800<br />
m 2 . The total cost for the CWT is about 1,2M €. C<strong>on</strong>sider<strong>in</strong>g that at the moment the cost for<br />
the leachates treatment <strong>in</strong> a near WWTP is above 30 €/m3, the total <strong>in</strong>vestment will be paid<br />
back <strong>in</strong> a maximum <strong>of</strong> 3 years <strong>of</strong> operati<strong>on</strong> at full capacity.<br />
Villesse-Gorizia Highway – stormwater treatment by delocalised CW systems<br />
With<strong>in</strong> the elaborati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the Detail Plan for the highway c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong> Villesse-Gorizia,<br />
natural treatment technologies have been adopted as appropriate methods to m<strong>in</strong>imize the<br />
highway run<strong>of</strong>f impact, to set envir<strong>on</strong>mental mitigati<strong>on</strong> z<strong>on</strong>es and to improve <strong>in</strong>frastructure‘s<br />
landscaped <strong>in</strong>serti<strong>on</strong>. The adopted design takes <strong>in</strong>to account the underground water high<br />
vulnerability; <strong>in</strong> general terms the treatment tra<strong>in</strong> (<strong>in</strong> total nearly 60 CWs for approximately<br />
17 Kms <strong>of</strong> highway) c<strong>on</strong>sists <strong>in</strong> a ―<strong>of</strong>f-l<strong>in</strong>e‖ scheme as follow<strong>in</strong>g: 1) rough screen<strong>in</strong>g by a<br />
mechanical grid, primary physical treatment by a first flush sedimentati<strong>on</strong> tank, followed<br />
from a high performance degreaser (Coalescence filter); 2) a subsurface horiz<strong>on</strong>tal flow<br />
c<strong>on</strong>structed wetland; 3) a Wet P<strong>on</strong>d, that receives effluents from the previous secti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
together with the sec<strong>on</strong>d flush, assur<strong>in</strong>g therefore also to this last amount <strong>of</strong> lightly polluted<br />
water a certa<strong>in</strong> degree <strong>of</strong> treatment; 4) a f<strong>in</strong>al vegetated retenti<strong>on</strong> area, which acts like an<br />
<strong>in</strong>filtrati<strong>on</strong> area for groundwater recharge and at the same time like a high efficiency<br />
evapotranspirati<strong>on</strong> sector. Only <strong>in</strong> five cases the vegetated retenti<strong>on</strong> area was not requested<br />
because it was possible to discharge <strong>in</strong> a significant water-body, the Is<strong>on</strong>zo river; <strong>in</strong> two <strong>of</strong><br />
this cases, the choice was an <strong>on</strong>-l<strong>in</strong>e treatment, c<strong>on</strong>stituted by a sand-removal tank, a<br />
degreaser and a submerged flow c<strong>on</strong>structed wetland specially designed for stormwater<br />
events.<br />
____________________________________________________________________________________________________<br />
<strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35 29
Municipality <strong>of</strong> Preganziol (Venice)<br />
A new social hous<strong>in</strong>g settlement (240 pe) <strong>in</strong>cludes <strong>in</strong>novative water systems for build<strong>in</strong>gs,<br />
like as water sav<strong>in</strong>g, grey water use, ra<strong>in</strong> water collecti<strong>on</strong> and reuse. Ra<strong>in</strong>water is harvested<br />
from ro<strong>of</strong>s and other surfaces (park<strong>in</strong>g area, …) <strong>in</strong> a separate way and it‘s differently treated<br />
before its reuse.<br />
Grey water is treated by a HF CW (14,5 m 3 /d <strong>in</strong> 232 m 2 ) and then stored for reuse (toilet<br />
flush<strong>in</strong>g and landscap<strong>in</strong>g), together with the harvested and treated ra<strong>in</strong>water. Ra<strong>in</strong>water is<br />
treated <strong>in</strong> a 50m 2 VF CW. The water cycle optimisati<strong>on</strong> is sav<strong>in</strong>g about 9000 m 3 <strong>of</strong> potable<br />
water per year and a 30-35% reducti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the discharged wastewater <strong>in</strong> the municipal sewer.<br />
Preganziol is a good example <strong>of</strong> susta<strong>in</strong>able build<strong>in</strong>g and susta<strong>in</strong>able water management.<br />
Natural Systems for Treatment <strong>of</strong> Comb<strong>in</strong>ed Sewage Overflow (Gorla Maggiore,<br />
Capiago Intimiano, Gorg<strong>on</strong>zola – Milan)<br />
This project <strong>in</strong>volves the Lambro, Seveso and Ol<strong>on</strong>a watershed that are <strong>on</strong>e <strong>of</strong> the most<br />
critical areas <strong>of</strong> the country, <strong>in</strong> particular <strong>on</strong> the management <strong>of</strong> waters. This superficial<br />
waters are heavily eutrophicated from comb<strong>in</strong>ed sewer overflows, that <strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong>e side has deeply<br />
altered the hydraulic answer <strong>of</strong> the territory, <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g the flood peaks, from the other pours<br />
to the rivers dra<strong>in</strong>age water elevates volumes, that c<strong>on</strong>stitute <strong>in</strong> average 40% <strong>of</strong> the river bed<br />
capacity. In comb<strong>in</strong>ed sewer systems an enhanced treatment <strong>of</strong> comb<strong>in</strong>ed sewer overflow<br />
(CSO) is required, when augmented water quality requirements are demanded or<br />
c<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>al CSO treatment does not meet envir<strong>on</strong>mental quality standards. C<strong>on</strong>structed<br />
wetlands (CWs) have proved to be a highly effective measure to reduce the ecological impact<br />
<strong>of</strong> comb<strong>in</strong>ed sewer overflows (CSOs) <strong>on</strong> receiv<strong>in</strong>g waters. This project aimed to verify the<br />
design performance <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>novative works (first experience <strong>in</strong> Italy <strong>of</strong> natural systems for the<br />
treatment <strong>of</strong> CSO) from various po<strong>in</strong>ts <strong>of</strong> view: technical scientific, procedural-<br />
___________________________________________________________________________<br />
30 <strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35
adm<strong>in</strong>istrative, ―political‖ or <strong>of</strong> ―acquisiti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the c<strong>on</strong>sent‖. In September 09 has been<br />
delivered the f<strong>in</strong>al Detail Project for the realisati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the Gorla Maggiore CW system, under<br />
local fund<strong>in</strong>g (by Regi<strong>on</strong>al Authority and Cariplo Bank). The CWTP commissi<strong>on</strong><strong>in</strong>g should<br />
take place <strong>in</strong>to 2010, as also the start-up <strong>of</strong> an <strong>in</strong>tensive m<strong>on</strong>itor<strong>in</strong>g programme.<br />
C<strong>on</strong>structed Wetlands Treatment Plants for the Treatment <strong>of</strong> the Municipal<br />
Wastewater - Municipality <strong>of</strong> Dicomano (Florence) – Municipality <strong>of</strong> Vizzola Tic<strong>in</strong>o<br />
(Varese)<br />
Wastewaters produced by the whole Dicomano settlement (3.500 p.e.) are treated by a multistage<br />
CW plant runn<strong>in</strong>g s<strong>in</strong>ce september 2003. At the moment, it is the biggest sec<strong>on</strong>dary<br />
treatment C<strong>on</strong>structed Wetland system <strong>in</strong> Italy for municipal wastewater. The wastewater,<br />
after a primary treatment (grid + Imh<strong>of</strong>f septic tank), flows <strong>in</strong>to an horiz<strong>on</strong>tal subsurface flow<br />
system as sec<strong>on</strong>dary treatment (1 st stage), then <strong>in</strong>to a vertical subsurface flow system (2 nd<br />
stage) and <strong>in</strong>to an horiz<strong>on</strong>tal subsurface flow system aga<strong>in</strong> (3 rd stage). At least, wastewater is<br />
received by a free water system as a tertiary treatment (4 th stage). The free water system is<br />
used as polish<strong>in</strong>g stage for dis<strong>in</strong>fecti<strong>on</strong> and enhanced denitrificati<strong>on</strong>. It is c<strong>on</strong>ceived <strong>in</strong> order<br />
to obta<strong>in</strong> a high-biodiversity area (16 Tuscany‘s autochth<strong>on</strong> species <strong>of</strong> vegetati<strong>on</strong> have been<br />
planted).<br />
____________________________________________________________________________________________________<br />
<strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35 31
The CW system treats 525 m 3 <strong>of</strong> wastewater per day. This system c<strong>on</strong>figurati<strong>on</strong> is able to<br />
perform a good nitrogen removal, especially dur<strong>in</strong>g summer, when the receiv<strong>in</strong>g water body<br />
has the lowest flow, and achieves the purificati<strong>on</strong> targets required by the Italian law (D.L.<br />
152/06). The system is managed by the ma<strong>in</strong> water services c<strong>on</strong>tractor <strong>of</strong> the regi<strong>on</strong>,<br />
Publiacqua Spa, and regularly m<strong>on</strong>itored, at least for the outlet quality as requested by the<br />
regi<strong>on</strong>al regulati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
The same treatment tra<strong>in</strong> has been applied also by a sec<strong>on</strong>d Municipality is Northern<br />
Italy; about 350 pe are treated by a CWs system located <strong>in</strong> Vizzola Tic<strong>in</strong>o – Castel Novate,<br />
near Varese.<br />
The applicati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> two stages or multistage CWs systems, with the comb<strong>in</strong>ati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
Vertical and Horiz<strong>on</strong>tal flow reed beds, is rapidly becom<strong>in</strong>g the most diffuse <strong>on</strong> the territory,<br />
but the s<strong>in</strong>gle house systems which still c<strong>on</strong>t<strong>in</strong>ue to be s<strong>in</strong>gle stage and s<strong>in</strong>gle bed.<br />
C<strong>on</strong>structed Wetlands for Tertiary Treatment and Reuse<br />
Jesi’s Municipal WWTP (Jesi - Anc<strong>on</strong>a)<br />
Wastewater from the city <strong>of</strong> Jesi was treated <strong>in</strong> an activated sludge c<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong>al treatment<br />
plant. The Jesi Municipality needed to upgrade the treatment capability from 15,000 to<br />
60,000 p.e. and to reuse a part <strong>of</strong> the purified wastewater for <strong>in</strong>dustrial aims. The upgrad<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>of</strong> the plant c<strong>on</strong>sisted <strong>in</strong> two new compartments: a nitrificati<strong>on</strong>/denitrificati<strong>on</strong> technological<br />
sector; and a f<strong>in</strong>al C<strong>on</strong>structed wetland sector.<br />
___________________________________________________________________________<br />
32 <strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35
The CW sector is formed by a sedimentati<strong>on</strong> bas<strong>in</strong>, an horiz<strong>on</strong>tal subsurface flow stage<br />
(about 1 ha) and a free water system stage (about 5 ha). The plant has been realized <strong>in</strong> a flood<br />
area near the Es<strong>in</strong>o River and it has been designed as periodic flood pro<strong>of</strong>ed. Part <strong>of</strong> the<br />
treated water is provided to the near <strong>in</strong>dustrial area for reuse by a dual net pipe.<br />
San Michele di Ganzaria (Catania)<br />
In Sicily many wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) <strong>of</strong> small-medium communities are not<br />
<strong>in</strong> operati<strong>on</strong> due to management problems and high O&M costs. Extensive treatment<br />
processes, such as lago<strong>on</strong><strong>in</strong>g and CWs, potentially represent a more appropriate and<br />
susta<strong>in</strong>able treatment soluti<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong> rural c<strong>on</strong>texts, as <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>land areas <strong>of</strong> Southern Italy where<br />
climatic c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s and land availability are favourable. A first important experience <strong>on</strong><br />
Sicily has been a subsurface horiz<strong>on</strong>tal flow CW for the tertiary treatment (after a sec<strong>on</strong>dary<br />
treatment with trickl<strong>in</strong>g filter) <strong>of</strong> a rural community effluent <strong>of</strong> about 5,000 people located <strong>in</strong><br />
San Michele di Ganzaria, Eastern Sicily. The system is designed to wastewater reuse for the<br />
irrigati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> olive orchards cover<strong>in</strong>g about 150 ha. S<strong>in</strong>ce March 2001 a reed bed (for about<br />
1,100 P.E.) is <strong>in</strong> operati<strong>on</strong> with a flow rate <strong>of</strong> 1.75 L/s and a nom<strong>in</strong>al detenti<strong>on</strong> time <strong>of</strong> about<br />
2 days. The flow path from <strong>in</strong>let to outlet is 78 m and the total area is 1,950 m 2 . Mean<br />
removal efficiencies ranged from 65% to 88% (TSS), 53% to 84% (BOD5), 62% to 80%<br />
(COD), 14% to 52% (TN), 15% to 45% (TP), 95% to 99.8% (faecal coliforms). The CW unit<br />
seems to operate efficiently s<strong>in</strong>ce the start<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> operati<strong>on</strong> (from Barbagallo et al., 2002). A<br />
sec<strong>on</strong>d bed has been recently added as parallel l<strong>in</strong>e, doubl<strong>in</strong>g the treatment capacity <strong>of</strong> the<br />
system and the amount <strong>of</strong> treated wastewater (or better ―service water‖) available for<br />
irrigati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
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<strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35 33
At the same site, the University <strong>of</strong> Catania has realised an experimental pilot plant that<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sists <strong>of</strong> four l<strong>in</strong>es <strong>of</strong> two-stage subsurface flow c<strong>on</strong>structed wetlands for sec<strong>on</strong>dary or<br />
tertiary treatment <strong>of</strong> municipal wastewater. The first stage, for each l<strong>in</strong>e, c<strong>on</strong>sists <strong>of</strong> a<br />
horiz<strong>on</strong>tal flow bed, while <strong>in</strong> the sec<strong>on</strong>d stage a vertical flow bed operates for two l<strong>in</strong>es and a<br />
horiz<strong>on</strong>tal flow bed for the other two. Phragmites sp. was used as vegetati<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong> two l<strong>in</strong>es<br />
while the other two l<strong>in</strong>es are without plants. Several experiments have been c<strong>on</strong>ducted there,<br />
especially for test<strong>in</strong>g the HYDRUS 2D CW model <strong>in</strong> collaborati<strong>on</strong> with BOKU.<br />
C<strong>on</strong>structed Wetlands for Sludge Dry<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Acque S.p.a. – <strong>on</strong>e <strong>of</strong> the six hold<strong>in</strong>g companies for water and wastewater <strong>in</strong> Tuscany Regi<strong>on</strong><br />
– manages 152 WWTPs, 130 <strong>of</strong> which serv<strong>in</strong>g less than 5000 people, over a territory <strong>of</strong> 57<br />
municipalities. The potential for applicati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> reed beds is therefore very high with<strong>in</strong> the<br />
c<strong>on</strong>trolled territory. C<strong>on</strong>sider<strong>in</strong>g all the advantages and good performances reported for reed<br />
bed systems, <strong>in</strong> 2004 Acque S.p.a. started to test this technology <strong>on</strong> a pilot plant. After<br />
obta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g satisfy<strong>in</strong>g and promis<strong>in</strong>g results from prelim<strong>in</strong>ary experimentati<strong>on</strong>, the company<br />
decided to adopt reed beds for a set <strong>of</strong> c<strong>on</strong>trolled WWTPs. At present, reed bed systems have<br />
been already implemented <strong>in</strong> 6 <strong>of</strong> them, and 25 new <strong>in</strong>stallati<strong>on</strong>s are planned for the future.<br />
All beds are currently fed with aerobically stabilized sludge from domestic activated sludge<br />
WWTPs. Reed bed systems were easily derived from exist<strong>in</strong>g dry<strong>in</strong>g beds by plant<strong>in</strong>g reeds<br />
(Phragmites australis) after preparati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the bottom <strong>in</strong>ert and dra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g layer, and, where<br />
necessary, after <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g the freeboard <strong>of</strong> the side walls <strong>of</strong> the exist<strong>in</strong>g dry<strong>in</strong>g beds <strong>of</strong> 1 ÷<br />
1.5 m (from Giraldi D., 2009).<br />
There are some other sludge dry<strong>in</strong>g CW systems <strong>in</strong> Piedm<strong>on</strong>t, ma<strong>in</strong>ly <strong>in</strong> the southern part<br />
<strong>of</strong> the regi<strong>on</strong>, where several w<strong>in</strong>e factories are equipped with Activated Sludge treatment<br />
plants for their wastewater management. The Piedm<strong>on</strong>t Regi<strong>on</strong>al Authority has subsidised for<br />
several years, up to 70% <strong>of</strong> the realisati<strong>on</strong> cost, specifically the applicati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> CWs for sludge<br />
dry<strong>in</strong>g;<br />
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34 <strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35
References and Bibliography<br />
Barbagallo S., Cirelli G.L., C<strong>on</strong>soli S., Toscano A. e Barbera A. (2002), Experiences <strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>structed<br />
Wetland as tertiary treatment for wastewater reuse: the case-study <strong>of</strong> ―S.Michele di Ganzaria‖<br />
(Sicilia), Proceed<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>of</strong> 1th Internati<strong>on</strong>al C<strong>on</strong>ference <strong>on</strong> small wastewater technologies and<br />
management for the Mediterranean area , Seville, Spa<strong>in</strong>, , pp. 23.<br />
Giraldi D., Iannelli R., (2009), Short-term water c<strong>on</strong>tent analysis for the optimizati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> sludge<br />
dewater<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> dedicated c<strong>on</strong>structed wetlands (reed bed systems). Desal<strong>in</strong>ati<strong>on</strong>, (<strong>in</strong> press).<br />
Giraldi D., Masciandaro G., Peruzzi E., Bianchi V., Peruzzi P., Ceccanti B., Iannelli R. (2009),<br />
Hydraulic and biochemical analyses <strong>on</strong> full scale sludge c<strong>on</strong>solidati<strong>on</strong> reed beds <strong>in</strong> Tuscany<br />
(Italy). Wat. Sci. Tech (<strong>in</strong> press).<br />
Masi F. (2008), ―Enhanced denitrificati<strong>on</strong> by an hybrid HF-FWS CW <strong>in</strong> large scale wastewater<br />
treatment plant (Jesi)‖, <strong>in</strong> ―Wastewater Treatment, Plant Dynamics and Management <strong>in</strong><br />
C<strong>on</strong>structed and Natural Wetlands‖, by Jan Vymazal (Ed.), Spr<strong>in</strong>ger, NY, ISBN: 978-1-4020-<br />
8234-4.<br />
Masi F. (2009), ―<strong>Water</strong> reuse and resources recovery: the role <strong>of</strong> C<strong>on</strong>structed Wetlands <strong>in</strong> the Ecosan<br />
approach‖, Desal<strong>in</strong>ati<strong>on</strong>, Vol. 246, pp. 27-34,.<br />
Peruzzi E., Macci C., D<strong>on</strong>i S., Masciandaro G., Peruzzi P., Aiello M., Ceccanti B. (2009), Phragmites<br />
australis for sewage sludges stabilizati<strong>on</strong>. Desal<strong>in</strong>ati<strong>on</strong>, (<strong>in</strong> press).<br />
Toscano A., Langergraber G., C<strong>on</strong>soli S. and Cirelli G.L. (2009), Modell<strong>in</strong>g pollutant removal <strong>in</strong> a<br />
pilot-scale two-stage subsurface flow c<strong>on</strong>structed wetlands. Ecological Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g. Vol. 35, Issue<br />
2, 281-289.<br />
THE TREATMENT WETLAND OF THE MONTREAL BIOSPHERE:<br />
15 YEARS LATER<br />
Jacques Briss<strong>on</strong> 1 * and Gilles VIncent 2<br />
1 Université de M<strong>on</strong>tréal, Département de sciences biologiques and Institut de recherche en<br />
biologie végétale (IRBV), 4101 Sherbrooke East, M<strong>on</strong>treal, Quebec H1X 2B2, Canada.<br />
2 Jard<strong>in</strong> botanique de M<strong>on</strong>tréal, 4101 Sherbrooke East, M<strong>on</strong>treal, Quebec H1X 2B2, Canada.<br />
*Corresp<strong>on</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g author. Tel.: +1 514 872 1862; fax : +1 514 872 9406.<br />
E-mail: jacques.briss<strong>on</strong>@um<strong>on</strong>treal.ca.<br />
Introducti<strong>on</strong><br />
In June 1995, Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Canada opened a new science museum devoted to public<br />
educati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> the envir<strong>on</strong>ment, water resources and aquatic ecosystems. Built from the<br />
geodesic structure that was previously host<strong>in</strong>g the USA pavili<strong>on</strong> dur<strong>in</strong>g the 1967 World Fair<br />
<strong>in</strong> M<strong>on</strong>treal, the ―Biosphere‖ is adequately located <strong>on</strong> Ste-Helene Island, <strong>in</strong> a highly visited<br />
park <strong>in</strong> the middle <strong>of</strong> the St-Lawrence River. Given the theme <strong>of</strong> the museum, it seemed<br />
appropriate to <strong>in</strong>tegrate a c<strong>on</strong>structed wetland for wastewater treatment system as part <strong>of</strong> the<br />
museum‘s scientific and educati<strong>on</strong> program. The project presented important challenges to its<br />
designers. First, the number <strong>of</strong> museum‘s visitors, and therefore the quantity <strong>of</strong> water to be<br />
treated, was expected to be high with large variati<strong>on</strong> dur<strong>in</strong>g the year. Sec<strong>on</strong>d, while the<br />
technology had already been well established <strong>in</strong> other parts <strong>of</strong> the world, its efficiency under<br />
the harsh climatic c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>of</strong> M<strong>on</strong>treal needed to be evaluated. Third, not <strong>on</strong>ly the wetland<br />
had to be accessible to passers-by <strong>in</strong> the park as well as to museum‘s visitors, but s<strong>in</strong>ce a<br />
restaurant was located <strong>on</strong>ly 50m away, no foul odors or malfuncti<strong>on</strong> could be tolerated.<br />
F<strong>in</strong>ally, because <strong>of</strong> the high publicity and visibility surround<strong>in</strong>g the open<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> the museum,<br />
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<strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35 35
expectati<strong>on</strong>s from the public and public authorities were understandably high, putt<strong>in</strong>g even<br />
more pressure for success.<br />
The design chosen was multi-steps: two parallel reed beds, <strong>on</strong>e shallow surface-flow unit,<br />
<strong>on</strong>e deep surface-flow unit. Because <strong>of</strong> its <strong>in</strong>novative nature, its high visibility and its<br />
scientific and educati<strong>on</strong>al values, the wetland was m<strong>on</strong>itored very extensively for efficiency<br />
dur<strong>in</strong>g the first three years, followed by more occasi<strong>on</strong>al surveys. Now, 15 years later, the<br />
Biosphere treatment wetland has proven to be a success; it achieved a high removal<br />
efficiency that showed no decrease over the years and also completely fulfilled its<br />
educati<strong>on</strong>al missi<strong>on</strong>. In this paper, we report <strong>on</strong> the design, removal efficiency and dynamics<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Biosphere treatment wetland, <strong>on</strong>e <strong>of</strong> the l<strong>on</strong>gest runn<strong>in</strong>g CWs <strong>in</strong> Canada.<br />
Descripti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the wetland<br />
For design c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong>, discharge assessment was based <strong>on</strong> the most optimistic projecti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
for visitors, estimated to 300 000 per year, with a maximum <strong>of</strong> 6000 visitors per day. The<br />
various comp<strong>on</strong>ents <strong>of</strong> the system are designed to mimic the gradient from wetland edge with<br />
emergent plants to deeper water with submerged plants, thus optimiz<strong>in</strong>g the global<br />
purificati<strong>on</strong> efficiency <strong>of</strong> the system and its appeal to visitors (Figure 1) (Radoux 2003).<br />
Pretreatment is achieved by a 45m 3 septic tank at the head <strong>of</strong> the system. The wastewater<br />
treated by the CW is thus the overflow <strong>of</strong> the septic tank (see Table 1 for wastewater<br />
characteristics). The first CW unit c<strong>on</strong>sists <strong>of</strong> a 400m 2 subsurface flow wetland planted with<br />
comm<strong>on</strong> reed (Phragmites australis). The reed bed is divided <strong>in</strong> two identical secti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
located side by side. These two secti<strong>on</strong>s are <strong>in</strong>dependent, and they can be operated<br />
simultaneously or alternatively. The sec<strong>on</strong>d unit is a shallow 300m 2 surface flow c<strong>on</strong>structed<br />
wetland, orig<strong>in</strong>ally planted with three species each occupy<strong>in</strong>g 100m 2 : first bulrush (Scirpus<br />
lacustris), followed by cattail (Typha latifolia) and then by larger blueflag (Iris versicolor).<br />
The last unit is a 100m 2 p<strong>on</strong>d designed for polish<strong>in</strong>g purposes. The first part <strong>of</strong> the p<strong>on</strong>d is a<br />
shallow 50m 2 secti<strong>on</strong> orig<strong>in</strong>ally planted with water m<strong>in</strong>t (Mentha canadensis) followed by a<br />
1m deep secti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> 50m 2 planted with a submerged species, Canada waterweed (Elodea<br />
canadensis). Sampl<strong>in</strong>g mechanisms at the end <strong>of</strong> each unit, and flow measurement devices at<br />
the end <strong>of</strong> the first and last unit, are <strong>in</strong>corporated <strong>in</strong> the system for m<strong>on</strong>itor<strong>in</strong>g purposes.<br />
F<strong>in</strong>ally, display panels expla<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g the functi<strong>on</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> the wetland are located near the system<br />
and <strong>in</strong>side the museum for educati<strong>on</strong>al purposes.<br />
Figure 1. Schematic view <strong>of</strong> the treatment wetland <strong>of</strong> the Biosphere, as it was designed.<br />
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36 <strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35
Table 1. Domestic wastewater <strong>of</strong> the Biosphere Museum, after pre-treatment, based <strong>on</strong> data from<br />
1996.<br />
Number <strong>of</strong> visitors,<br />
1996<br />
87 000<br />
Precipitati<strong>on</strong> (mm·d -1 ) 2.93<br />
Influent (m 3 ·d -1 ) 9.8<br />
pH 7.2<br />
TSS (mg·L -1 ) 57<br />
COD (mg·L -1 ) 310<br />
BOD (mg·L -1 ) 126<br />
TKN (mg·L -1 ) 90.5<br />
NH4 (mg·L -1 ) 80.5<br />
NOx (mg·L -1 ) 23.3<br />
TP (mg·L -1 ) 10.3<br />
PO4<br />
6.6<br />
15 Years <strong>of</strong> high removal efficiency<br />
The treatment system has functi<strong>on</strong>ed c<strong>on</strong>t<strong>in</strong>uously over the last 15 years. Dur<strong>in</strong>g w<strong>in</strong>ter<br />
(November to March), <strong>on</strong>ly the reed beds are <strong>in</strong> operati<strong>on</strong>, a bypass allow<strong>in</strong>g their effluent to<br />
reach directly the end <strong>of</strong> the system without go<strong>in</strong>g through the surface flow units. Dur<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
first three years <strong>of</strong> operati<strong>on</strong>, removal efficiency was measured twice a m<strong>on</strong>th, except <strong>in</strong><br />
w<strong>in</strong>ter, where sampl<strong>in</strong>g was d<strong>on</strong>e <strong>on</strong>ce a m<strong>on</strong>th. The parameters measured were TSS, DOC,<br />
BOD, TKN, NH4, NOx, TP, PO4, fecal coliforms (FC), temperature, electric c<strong>on</strong>ductivity and<br />
dissolved oxygen. They were measured at eight sampl<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>ts <strong>in</strong> the system (Figure 1).<br />
After this <strong>in</strong>itial m<strong>on</strong>itor<strong>in</strong>g dem<strong>on</strong>strated the high efficiency <strong>of</strong> the system, further sampl<strong>in</strong>g<br />
and analysis have been occasi<strong>on</strong>al over the years, and <strong>on</strong>ly dur<strong>in</strong>g the grow<strong>in</strong>g seas<strong>on</strong>.<br />
However, there is a regular <strong>in</strong>specti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the system for changes <strong>in</strong> water color, appearance <strong>of</strong><br />
foul odors, or decrease <strong>in</strong> plant‘s health.<br />
Inflow averages 9.8 m 3 ·d -1 , with large daily and seas<strong>on</strong>al variati<strong>on</strong>s depend<strong>in</strong>g <strong>on</strong> the<br />
number <strong>of</strong> visitors (higher <strong>on</strong> weekends and <strong>in</strong> summer). This average is much lower than the<br />
most optimistic scenario <strong>on</strong> which the design <strong>of</strong> the treatment wetland was based. As a result,<br />
the treatment wetland functi<strong>on</strong>s well below its theoretical capacity. HRT is much l<strong>on</strong>ger than<br />
expected, and dur<strong>in</strong>g the grow<strong>in</strong>g seas<strong>on</strong>, a good porti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the water is lost through<br />
evapotranspirati<strong>on</strong>. On occasi<strong>on</strong>, there is no system effluent at all <strong>on</strong> some summer days with<br />
no precipitati<strong>on</strong>, high temperature and fewer visitors.<br />
Removal efficiency has been high for most parameters measured dur<strong>in</strong>g the whole period<br />
<strong>of</strong> m<strong>on</strong>itor<strong>in</strong>g (Table 2). The reed beds are almost entirely resp<strong>on</strong>sible for water treatment for<br />
most pollutants except TKN: water quality at the outlet <strong>of</strong> the reed beds is so high that further<br />
removal by the follow<strong>in</strong>g surface flow wetland units is <strong>of</strong>ten negligible (or even negative) for<br />
TSS, DOC, BOD, NOx, TP and PO4. Dur<strong>in</strong>g the grow<strong>in</strong>g seas<strong>on</strong>, the reed beds are<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>sible for an average <strong>of</strong> 50 to 60% TKN removal, while the two SF units are further<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>sible for an additi<strong>on</strong>al 25 to 40%. In w<strong>in</strong>ter, removal efficiency rema<strong>in</strong>ed high dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the first three years <strong>of</strong> operati<strong>on</strong> except for TKN (data not shown). The lower efficiency <strong>in</strong><br />
TKN removal is obviously due to the fact that the SF wetlands do not c<strong>on</strong>tribute s<strong>in</strong>ce they<br />
are by-passed. However, there is an additi<strong>on</strong>al average <strong>of</strong> 10% less TKN removal <strong>in</strong> the reed<br />
beds relative to their efficiency dur<strong>in</strong>g the grow<strong>in</strong>g seas<strong>on</strong>, most likely due to the lower<br />
temperature (and thus microbial activity) <strong>of</strong> the wastewater. Removal patterns for NH4<br />
closely follows those <strong>of</strong> TKN, both <strong>in</strong> w<strong>in</strong>ter and <strong>in</strong> the grow<strong>in</strong>g seas<strong>on</strong>. There is a very high<br />
phosphorus removal <strong>in</strong> the reed beds, with no signs <strong>of</strong> decrease <strong>in</strong> efficiency over time.<br />
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<strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35 37
Aga<strong>in</strong>, the fact that the reed beds have been designed for a larger number <strong>of</strong> visitors<br />
c<strong>on</strong>tributes to their l<strong>on</strong>gevity, delay<strong>in</strong>g the imm<strong>in</strong>ence <strong>of</strong> phosphorus saturati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the bed<br />
media.<br />
Table 2. Percentage removal <strong>of</strong> pollutants for the treatment wetland <strong>of</strong> the Biosphere Museum,<br />
M<strong>on</strong>treal. Results for 1995, 1996, and 1997 are based <strong>on</strong> yearly averages (exclud<strong>in</strong>g w<strong>in</strong>ter), with<br />
removal calculated <strong>on</strong> a mass balance basis. Results for the other years come from s<strong>in</strong>gle sampl<strong>in</strong>g<br />
campaigns realized <strong>in</strong> the grow<strong>in</strong>g seas<strong>on</strong>, and are based <strong>on</strong> comparis<strong>on</strong> between <strong>in</strong>flow-outflow<br />
c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
1995 1996 1997 2003 2005 2007 2009<br />
TSS 63.9 85.8 85.7 85,4 66,7 - 88.0<br />
BOD 97.0 97.7 97.9 100 100 73 -<br />
COD 84.9 83.3 83.3 - - - -<br />
TKN 84.3 86.1 83.9 92.3 95.2 93.2 -<br />
NH4 79.7 94.5 93.9 94.9 99.5 99.9 98.6<br />
NOx - 87.0 80.0 - - - 95,2<br />
TP 97.6 74.0 73.6 100 90,5 96 -<br />
PO4 99.6 99.0 96.6 99.6 100 100 96.7<br />
FC 99.9 99.9 99.9 - - - -<br />
As for plant dynamics, blueflag plantati<strong>on</strong> was not successful <strong>in</strong> the first SF wetland unit,<br />
so that more cattail (Typha latifolia) was planted to fill the empty spaces. Over time, cattail<br />
also slowly ga<strong>in</strong>ed ground over bulrush so that today, it is largely dom<strong>in</strong>ant <strong>in</strong> this unit. Other<br />
species <strong>of</strong> m<strong>in</strong>or importance naturally established (and occasi<strong>on</strong>ally disappeared) over time:<br />
p<strong>on</strong>dweed (Potamoget<strong>on</strong> sp.), broad-leaf arrowhead (Sagitaria latifolia), etc. The sec<strong>on</strong>d SF<br />
wetland unit experienced large changes <strong>in</strong> plant species compositi<strong>on</strong> over time. At the<br />
beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g, flower<strong>in</strong>g yellow iris (Iris pseudacorus) was planted to replace the water m<strong>in</strong>t,<br />
which had not survived plantati<strong>on</strong>. <strong>Water</strong>weed <strong>in</strong>itially decl<strong>in</strong>ed and was naturally replaced<br />
by st<strong>on</strong>ewort (Chara sp.), which is an algae, and other, less abundant plant species, such as<br />
curly p<strong>on</strong>dweed (Potamoget<strong>on</strong> crispus) and small p<strong>on</strong>dweed (Potamoget<strong>on</strong> pusillus).<br />
However, over time, both cattail and comm<strong>on</strong> reed <strong>in</strong>vaded this wetland unit, and they<br />
represent the dom<strong>in</strong>ant species today. There was no effort to prevent these changes s<strong>in</strong>ce<br />
overall removal efficiency <strong>of</strong> the CW was not affected. Apart from a small (and unexpla<strong>in</strong>ed)<br />
mortality <strong>of</strong> comm<strong>on</strong> reed <strong>in</strong> the central porti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>on</strong>e reed bed <strong>in</strong> 1995, followed by a rapid<br />
recovery, the reed beds have always shown a dense and healthy plant col<strong>on</strong>y. However, <strong>in</strong><br />
1999, a groundhog (Marmota m<strong>on</strong>ax) damaged the membrane while attempt<strong>in</strong>g to dig a nest<br />
<strong>on</strong> the side <strong>of</strong> the reed bed. It was thus necessary to remove the reeds and excavate a secti<strong>on</strong><br />
<strong>of</strong> the bed to repair the l<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g, before fill<strong>in</strong>g aga<strong>in</strong> and replant<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
C<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong><br />
At the time <strong>of</strong> its creati<strong>on</strong>, it was estimated that the l<strong>on</strong>gevity <strong>of</strong> the reed bed units <strong>of</strong> the<br />
treatment wetland would approximately be 15 years, ma<strong>in</strong>ly because <strong>of</strong> saturati<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong><br />
phosphorus. A complete rejuvenat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> the reed beds, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g a replacement <strong>of</strong> the entire<br />
substrate and a replant<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> comm<strong>on</strong> reed, would thus be necessary. We have reached this<br />
period <strong>of</strong> 15 years and the removal efficiency shows no sign <strong>of</strong> decl<strong>in</strong>e, nor <strong>in</strong> phosphorus<br />
neither <strong>in</strong> other pollutants. The technology proved to be efficient both <strong>in</strong> w<strong>in</strong>ter and summer.<br />
In fact, the Biosphere CW is functi<strong>on</strong><strong>in</strong>g below its full potential s<strong>in</strong>ce it was designed for a<br />
larger <strong>in</strong>flow. Furthermore, the system has been a complete success <strong>in</strong> terms <strong>of</strong> its missi<strong>on</strong> as<br />
a dem<strong>on</strong>strati<strong>on</strong> treatment wetland. It has played an important role <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g public<br />
___________________________________________________________________________<br />
38 <strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35
awareness <strong>on</strong> the importance <strong>of</strong> water as a resource, but also <strong>on</strong> the existence <strong>of</strong> alternative<br />
ecological approaches to traditi<strong>on</strong>al methods <strong>of</strong> water treatment.<br />
Figure 2. Treatment wetland <strong>of</strong> the Biosphere. Photograph taken <strong>in</strong> 1996 (J. Briss<strong>on</strong>).<br />
Acknowledgements<br />
The design and c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the Biosphere CW was the result <strong>of</strong> a collaborative effort<br />
between Michel Radoux (F<strong>on</strong>dati<strong>on</strong> Universitaire Luxembourgeois), Jean-Louis Bret<strong>on</strong><br />
(Sod<strong>in</strong>co Inc.), Marc Mar<strong>in</strong> (<str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g>e Steica Inc), Jacques Trottier (Sopr<strong>in</strong> Inc), G. V<strong>in</strong>cent<br />
and others. M<strong>on</strong>itor<strong>in</strong>g was realized by Garba Laouali (IRBV), L<strong>in</strong>da Dum<strong>on</strong>t (IRBV) and<br />
the staff from the Biosphere, under the supervisi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> J. Briss<strong>on</strong>. We thank the staff from the<br />
Biosphere, and particularly Yves Bélanger, Harm Sloterdijk and Marie-Hélène Michaud for<br />
their c<strong>on</strong>t<strong>in</strong>u<strong>in</strong>g generosity and assistance. Envir<strong>on</strong>ment Canada is resp<strong>on</strong>sible for the<br />
Biosphere‘s missi<strong>on</strong> and orientati<strong>on</strong>, museological directi<strong>on</strong> and the build<strong>in</strong>g‘s operati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
References<br />
Radoux, M. 2003. Les Mosaïques Hiérarchisées d‘Écosystèmes Artificiels - <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g>e de<br />
recherches MHEA®, Stati<strong>on</strong> Expérimentale de Viville – F.U.L - C<strong>on</strong>cepti<strong>on</strong>, structure,<br />
particularités techniques et gesti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
____________________________________________________________________________________________________<br />
<strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35 39
NEWS FROM <strong>IWA</strong> HEADQUARTERS<br />
Individuals renew your <strong>IWA</strong> Membership for 2010 <strong>on</strong>l<strong>in</strong>e today!<br />
All the <strong>IWA</strong> renewals for 2010 have now been sent and <strong>IWA</strong> would like to encourage our<br />
members to renew before the end <strong>of</strong> the year <strong>in</strong> order to avoid any delay <strong>in</strong> receiv<strong>in</strong>g their<br />
all-important member benefits! Please renew <strong>on</strong>l<strong>in</strong>e at the follow<strong>in</strong>g l<strong>in</strong>k:<br />
https://www.portlandpress.com/iwa/membership/renewal.cfm<br />
If you have any queries regard<strong>in</strong>g your membership please feel free to c<strong>on</strong>tact us at<br />
members@iwahq.org<br />
D<strong>on</strong>’t be a stranger …<br />
Ensure that we have your correct c<strong>on</strong>tact details at all times. Please update any changes at<br />
https://www.portlandpress.com/iwa/membership/change.cfm or email<br />
members@iwahq.org<br />
___________________________________________________________________________<br />
40 <strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35
The <strong>IWA</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Wiki!<br />
Call for C<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
www.iwawaterwiki.org<br />
<strong>IWA</strong> are pleased to announce the launch <strong>of</strong> a new website – the <strong>IWA</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Wiki. This is an<br />
excit<strong>in</strong>g <strong>on</strong>l<strong>in</strong>e project to develop a collaborative platform for the global water community to<br />
<strong>in</strong>teract and share knowledge <strong>on</strong>l<strong>in</strong>e.<br />
The <strong>IWA</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Wiki aims to be THE <strong>on</strong>l<strong>in</strong>e reference po<strong>in</strong>t for water, wastewater and<br />
envir<strong>on</strong>mental science and management issues. It is a place for water pr<strong>of</strong>essi<strong>on</strong>als<br />
worldwide to <strong>in</strong>teract, share <strong>in</strong>formati<strong>on</strong> and <strong>in</strong>crease understand<strong>in</strong>g. In additi<strong>on</strong> to reference<br />
articles the website also <strong>of</strong>fers a set <strong>of</strong> features designed to enable community discussi<strong>on</strong> and<br />
<strong>in</strong>teracti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
The <strong>Water</strong> Wiki needs your help <strong>in</strong> order to grow. Here are some ideas for c<strong>on</strong>tribut<strong>in</strong>g<br />
material:<br />
Add a new article – if you have a summary / reference article that is already suitable for the<br />
Wiki, you can <strong>in</strong>stantly publish <strong>on</strong>l<strong>in</strong>e. Go to:<br />
http://www.iwawaterwiki.org/xwiki/b<strong>in</strong>/view/Articles/<br />
Edit an exist<strong>in</strong>g article - ‗Stub‘ articles have been preloaded under different subject<br />
categories cover<strong>in</strong>g a wide range <strong>of</strong> topics <strong>in</strong> water. If you would like to write any <strong>of</strong> these<br />
articles, click <strong>on</strong> the article head<strong>in</strong>g that you would like to write <strong>on</strong>, and start add<strong>in</strong>g your<br />
material. For example:<br />
http://www.iwawaterwiki.org/xwiki/b<strong>in</strong>/view/Articles/C<strong>on</strong>structedecosystems<br />
http://www.iwawaterwiki.org/xwiki/b<strong>in</strong>/view/Articles/C<strong>on</strong>structedWetlands<br />
http://www.iwawaterwiki.org/xwiki/b<strong>in</strong>/view/Articles/Polluti<strong>on</strong>m<strong>on</strong>itor<strong>in</strong>gandc<strong>on</strong>trol<br />
Suggest an idea for an article by creat<strong>in</strong>g an article with useful start<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>formati<strong>on</strong> that will<br />
encourage others to complete it. You could add a list <strong>of</strong> references or a basic explanati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
your topic as a start<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>t. For example:<br />
http://www.iwawaterwiki.org/xwiki/b<strong>in</strong>/view/Articles/Ecotoxicology<br />
Copy exist<strong>in</strong>g articles from Wikipedia or similar websites. If you have seen a good quality<br />
water article <strong>on</strong> Wikipedia you can copy this across to the <strong>Water</strong> Wiki as l<strong>on</strong>g as the<br />
orig<strong>in</strong>al source is credited. Wikipedia articles can also be revised and improved <strong>in</strong> order to<br />
match the more specific scope <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Water</strong> Wiki. This is possible with all websites that have<br />
a Creative Comm<strong>on</strong>s Compatible License.<br />
For example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C<strong>on</strong>structed_wetland<br />
We‘d love to hear your comments and ideas for this excit<strong>in</strong>g new project.<br />
For this, or if you have any questi<strong>on</strong>s about c<strong>on</strong>tribut<strong>in</strong>g to the site, please c<strong>on</strong>tact:<br />
Victoria Beddow<br />
<strong>IWA</strong> <strong>Water</strong>Wiki Community Manager<br />
vbeddow@iwap.co.uk<br />
____________________________________________________________________________________________________<br />
<strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35 41
NEW FROM <strong>IWA</strong> PUBLISHING<br />
Sediments C<strong>on</strong>tam<strong>in</strong>ati<strong>on</strong> and Susta<strong>in</strong>able Remediati<strong>on</strong><br />
Authors: Cather<strong>in</strong>e N. Mulligan, Masaharu Fukue and Yoshio Sato<br />
The surface water envir<strong>on</strong>ment can be c<strong>on</strong>sidered to be an important part <strong>of</strong> the geoenvir<strong>on</strong>ment.<br />
It is the recipient <strong>of</strong> not <strong>on</strong>ly liquid discharges from surface run-<strong>of</strong>fs, rivers and<br />
groundwater but also waste discharges from land-based <strong>in</strong>dustry, municipal and other<br />
anthropogenic sources. It is also a vital element <strong>in</strong> the geo-envir<strong>on</strong>ment that provides the base<br />
for life support systems and is a significant resource. The comb<strong>in</strong>ati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> these two large<br />
factors, with their direct l<strong>in</strong>k to human populati<strong>on</strong>, makes it an <strong>in</strong>tegral part <strong>of</strong> the<br />
c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> the susta<strong>in</strong>ability <strong>of</strong> the geo-envir<strong>on</strong>ment and its natural resources. A<br />
healthy ecosystem ensures that aquatic plants and animals are healthy and that these do not<br />
pose risks to human health when they form part <strong>of</strong> the food cha<strong>in</strong>.<br />
This book discusses the threats to the health <strong>of</strong> the sediments result<strong>in</strong>g from discharge <strong>of</strong><br />
pollutants, excessive nutrients and other hazardous substances from anthropogenic activities.<br />
It exam<strong>in</strong>es the impacts observed as a result <strong>of</strong> these discharges <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g the presence <strong>of</strong><br />
hazardous materials and the phenomen<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> eutrophicati<strong>on</strong>. It also exam<strong>in</strong>es the remediati<strong>on</strong><br />
techniques developed to restore the health <strong>of</strong> the sediments and how to evaluate the<br />
remediati<strong>on</strong> technologies us<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>dicators.The problems <strong>of</strong> sediment c<strong>on</strong>tam<strong>in</strong>ati<strong>on</strong> are<br />
developed <strong>in</strong> additi<strong>on</strong> to how they can be remediated and how the treatments can be<br />
evaluated.<br />
Co-Published with CRC Press<br />
ISBN: 9781843393009 • Pre-order (February 2010) • 359 pages • Hardback<br />
<strong>IWA</strong> Members price: £ 48.75 / US$ 97.50 / € 73.13<br />
http://www.iwapublish<strong>in</strong>g.com/template.cfm?name=isbn9781843393009<br />
-----<br />
Analytical Measurements <strong>in</strong> Aquatic Envir<strong>on</strong>ments<br />
Editors: Jacek Namiesnik and Piotr Szefer<br />
Over the past twenty years, the knowledge and understand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> wastewater treatment have<br />
Even a cursory perusal <strong>of</strong> any analytical journal will dem<strong>on</strong>strate the <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g important <strong>of</strong><br />
trace and ultra-trace analysis. And as <strong>in</strong>strumentati<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>t<strong>in</strong>ues to develop, the def<strong>in</strong>iti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
the term "trace element" will undoubtedly c<strong>on</strong>t<strong>in</strong>ue to change. Cover<strong>in</strong>g the compositi<strong>on</strong> and<br />
underly<strong>in</strong>g properties <strong>of</strong> freshwater and mar<strong>in</strong>e systems, Analytical Measurements <strong>in</strong><br />
Aquatic Envir<strong>on</strong>ments provides the basis for understand<strong>in</strong>g both. It discusses all aspects <strong>of</strong><br />
analytical protocols from the handl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> representative samples to the metrological<br />
evaluati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> specific steps and whole procedures.<br />
___________________________________________________________________________<br />
42 <strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35
The book covers:<br />
� handl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> representative samples<br />
� sample preservati<strong>on</strong> techniques<br />
� extracti<strong>on</strong> techniques<br />
� speciati<strong>on</strong> analytics<br />
� solvent-free sample preparati<strong>on</strong> for analysis<br />
� applicati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> biotests<br />
� bioanalytical methods for m<strong>on</strong>itor<strong>in</strong>g<br />
� green analytical chemistry-applicati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the c<strong>on</strong>cept <strong>of</strong> susta<strong>in</strong>ability <strong>in</strong> analytical<br />
laboratories<br />
� applicati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the Life Cycle Assessment approach<br />
� quality c<strong>on</strong>trol and quality assurance <strong>of</strong> analytical results<br />
� enhanced techniques <strong>of</strong> sample preparati<strong>on</strong><br />
� hyphenated analytical techniques<br />
Ecotoxicological c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong>s and the effort to achieve an <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly accurate descripti<strong>on</strong><br />
<strong>of</strong> the state <strong>of</strong> the envir<strong>on</strong>ment challenge analytical chemists who need to determ<strong>in</strong>e<br />
<strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly lower c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>of</strong> various analytes <strong>in</strong> samples that have complex and even<br />
n<strong>on</strong>-homogenous matrices. The newly co<strong>in</strong>ed expressi<strong>on</strong> "analytics" emphasizes the<br />
<strong>in</strong>terdiscipl<strong>in</strong>ary nature <strong>of</strong> available methods for obta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>formati<strong>on</strong> about material<br />
systems, with many methods that exceed the strict def<strong>in</strong>iti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> analytical chemistry. Draw<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>on</strong> the discipl<strong>in</strong>es <strong>of</strong> chemistry, physics, computer science, electr<strong>on</strong>ics, material science, and<br />
chemometrics, this book provides <strong>in</strong> depth <strong>in</strong>formati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> the most important problems <strong>in</strong><br />
analytics <strong>of</strong> samples from aquatic ecosystems.<br />
ISBN: 9781843393061 • October 2009 • 503 pages • Hardback<br />
<strong>IWA</strong> Members price: £ 41.25 / US$ 82.50 / € 61.88<br />
http://www.iwapublish<strong>in</strong>g.com/template.cfm?name=isbn9781843393061<br />
-----<br />
Groundwater Management <strong>in</strong> Large River Bas<strong>in</strong>s<br />
Editors: Milan Dimkic, He<strong>in</strong>z-Jurgen Brauch and Michael Kavanaugh<br />
This book reviews the state-<strong>of</strong>-the-art <strong>of</strong> groundwater management <strong>in</strong> large river bas<strong>in</strong>s,<br />
provid<strong>in</strong>g an <strong>in</strong>novative, <strong>in</strong>formative and c<strong>on</strong>sistent approach with technical tools for<br />
planners, decisi<strong>on</strong> makers and eng<strong>in</strong>eers.<br />
Groundwater Management <strong>in</strong> Large River Bas<strong>in</strong>s provides comprehensive coverage <strong>of</strong><br />
the basic elements <strong>of</strong> groundwater management <strong>in</strong> large river bas<strong>in</strong>s, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g:<br />
____________________________________________________________________________________________________<br />
<strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35 43
� Social, ec<strong>on</strong>omic and legislative framework, goals, practices and possible tools;<br />
� Review <strong>of</strong> EU groundwater legislati<strong>on</strong> and its implementati<strong>on</strong>;<br />
� Natural groundwater occurrence and natural circumstances and processes;<br />
� Groundwater management and ma<strong>in</strong>tenance issues:<br />
o Role <strong>of</strong> natural factors <strong>in</strong> groundwater management,<br />
o Different methods <strong>of</strong> groundwater abstracti<strong>on</strong> and protecti<strong>on</strong><br />
o Groundwater treatment technologies,<br />
o Well age<strong>in</strong>g and ma<strong>in</strong>tenance,<br />
o Nitrate problems, etc.<br />
� Groundwater model<strong>in</strong>g as a tool for groundwater assessment;<br />
� Aquifer restorati<strong>on</strong>;<br />
� A spectrum <strong>of</strong> technical appendices for eng<strong>in</strong>eers, which address groundwater issues.<br />
Also <strong>in</strong>cluded will be appendices <strong>in</strong>tended to support the work <strong>of</strong> groundwater eng<strong>in</strong>eers.<br />
This book will be <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>terest to groundwater eng<strong>in</strong>eers and planners, as well as lecturers and<br />
postgraduate and postdoctoral students.<br />
ISBN: 9781843391906 • November 2008 • 728 pages • Hardback<br />
<strong>IWA</strong> Members price: £ 75.00 / US$ 150.00 / € 112.50<br />
http://www.iwapublish<strong>in</strong>g.com/template.cfm?name=isbn1843391902<br />
-----<br />
Envir<strong>on</strong>mental Hydrogeology<br />
Sec<strong>on</strong>d Editi<strong>on</strong><br />
Authors: Philip E. LaMoreaux, Mostafa M. Soliman, Bashir A. Mem<strong>on</strong>, James W.<br />
LaMoreaux & Fakhry A. Assaad<br />
Headl<strong>in</strong>es c<strong>on</strong>t<strong>in</strong>ue to blare news <strong>of</strong> climate change, tangential catastrophic events, and<br />
dw<strong>in</strong>dl<strong>in</strong>g energy resources. Written by respected practiti<strong>on</strong>ers, and geared to practiti<strong>on</strong>ers<br />
and students, Envir<strong>on</strong>mental Hydrogeology, Sec<strong>on</strong>d Editi<strong>on</strong> explores the role that<br />
hydrogeology can play <strong>in</strong> solv<strong>in</strong>g challeng<strong>in</strong>g envir<strong>on</strong>mental problems.<br />
New <strong>in</strong> the Sec<strong>on</strong>d Editi<strong>on</strong>:<br />
� Coverage <strong>of</strong> groundwater recharg<strong>in</strong>g<br />
� Explorati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> geology <strong>of</strong> s<strong>in</strong>k hole pr<strong>on</strong>e areas<br />
� A case study <strong>of</strong> how salt-water spr<strong>in</strong>gs were drawn down to manageable levels <strong>in</strong> the<br />
Red River<br />
The authors provide a complete <strong>in</strong>troducti<strong>on</strong> to the fast-grow<strong>in</strong>g and evolv<strong>in</strong>g field <strong>of</strong><br />
envir<strong>on</strong>mental hydrogeology and its future. The sec<strong>on</strong>d editi<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong>cludes completely updated<br />
material and select new case studies. Match<strong>in</strong>g the caliber <strong>of</strong> coverage found <strong>in</strong> the previous<br />
editi<strong>on</strong>, the authors explore topics such as the geological aspects <strong>of</strong> disposal sites, surface<br />
water hydrogeology, groundwater hydrology and wells, envir<strong>on</strong>mental impacts and the<br />
hydrological system, and more. They also <strong>in</strong>clude types, sources, and properties <strong>of</strong> waste<br />
products, and propose waste management programs for groundwater protecti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
___________________________________________________________________________<br />
44 <strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35
Loom<strong>in</strong>g threats such as climate change, water polluti<strong>on</strong>, acid ra<strong>in</strong>, and air polluti<strong>on</strong> extend<br />
bey<strong>on</strong>d nati<strong>on</strong>al boundaries and span the gaps between c<strong>on</strong>t<strong>in</strong>ents. An <strong>in</strong>-depth understand<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>of</strong> hydrogeology will be necessary to resolve these problems. Focus<strong>in</strong>g <strong>on</strong> science rather than<br />
the regulati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>of</strong> any particular jurisdicti<strong>on</strong>, the authors explore a variety <strong>of</strong> soluti<strong>on</strong>s and<br />
practical applicati<strong>on</strong>s to issues such as groundwater recharg<strong>in</strong>g and protecti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
ISBN: 9781843392286 • November 2008 • 374 pages • Hardback<br />
<strong>IWA</strong> Members price: £ 45.00 / US$ 90.00 / € 67.50<br />
http://www.iwapublish<strong>in</strong>g.com/template.cfm?name=isbn9781843392286<br />
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Sediment and C<strong>on</strong>tam<strong>in</strong>ant Transport <strong>in</strong> Surface <strong>Water</strong>s<br />
Author: Wilbert J. Lick<br />
C<strong>on</strong>tam<strong>in</strong>ated bottom sediments and their negative impacts <strong>on</strong> water quality are a major<br />
problem <strong>in</strong> surface waters throughout the United States as well as <strong>in</strong> many other parts <strong>of</strong> the<br />
world. Even after elim<strong>in</strong>ati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the primary c<strong>on</strong>tam<strong>in</strong>ant sources, these bottom sediments<br />
will be a major source <strong>of</strong> c<strong>on</strong>tam<strong>in</strong>ants for many years to come. In order to determ<strong>in</strong>e<br />
envir<strong>on</strong>mentally-effective and cost-effective remedial acti<strong>on</strong>s, the transport and fate <strong>of</strong> these<br />
sediments and associated c<strong>on</strong>tam<strong>in</strong>ants must be understood and quantified. This book details<br />
how to best approach c<strong>on</strong>tam<strong>in</strong>ated sediments, allow<strong>in</strong>g readers to better assess and address<br />
water quality and health issues, water body management, and potential remediati<strong>on</strong> methods.<br />
Sediment and c<strong>on</strong>tam<strong>in</strong>ant transport is an enormously rich and complex field that <strong>in</strong>volves<br />
physical, chemical, and biological processes as well as the mathematical model<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> these<br />
processes. While many books have been written <strong>on</strong> these broad topics, Sediment and<br />
C<strong>on</strong>tam<strong>in</strong>ant Transport <strong>in</strong> Surface <strong>Water</strong>s takes a more focused approach, highlight<strong>in</strong>g<br />
areas that have been recently <strong>in</strong>vestigated but not covered thoroughly elsewhere.<br />
The volume emphasizes the erosi<strong>on</strong>, depositi<strong>on</strong>, flocculati<strong>on</strong>, and transport <strong>of</strong> f<strong>in</strong>e-gra<strong>in</strong>ed,<br />
cohesive sediments; the effects <strong>of</strong> f<strong>in</strong>ite rates <strong>of</strong> sorpti<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> the transport and fate <strong>of</strong><br />
hydrophobic c<strong>on</strong>tam<strong>in</strong>ants; and the effects <strong>of</strong> major events such as floods and storms. Despite<br />
these emphases, the overall goal <strong>of</strong> the text is to present a general descripti<strong>on</strong> and<br />
understand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> the transport <strong>of</strong> sediments and c<strong>on</strong>tam<strong>in</strong>ants <strong>in</strong> surface waters as well as<br />
procedures to quantitatively predict this transport.<br />
ISBN: 9781843392293 • October 2008 • 456 pages • Hardback<br />
<strong>IWA</strong> Members price: £ 48.75 / US$ 97.50 / € 73.13<br />
http://www.iwapublish<strong>in</strong>g.com/template.cfm?name=isbn9781843392293<br />
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____________________________________________________________________________________________________<br />
<strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35 45
The Adaptiveness <strong>of</strong> IWRM<br />
Analys<strong>in</strong>g European IWRM research<br />
Authors: Jos G. Timmerman, Claudia Pahl-Wostl, Jorn Moltgen<br />
The Adaptiveness <strong>of</strong> IWRM provides new <strong>in</strong>sights and knowledge <strong>on</strong> the challenges and<br />
soluti<strong>on</strong>s that current water management faces <strong>in</strong> a situati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> complexity and uncerta<strong>in</strong>ty.<br />
Draw<strong>in</strong>g <strong>on</strong> the available results from a wide range <strong>of</strong> European research projects under<br />
several framework programmes, the book provides an overview <strong>of</strong> the state <strong>of</strong> the art <strong>in</strong><br />
European research <strong>on</strong> Integrated <strong>Water</strong> Resources Management <strong>on</strong> the topics <strong>of</strong> Participati<strong>on</strong>,<br />
Transboundary regimes, Ec<strong>on</strong>omics, Vulnerability, Climate change, Advanced m<strong>on</strong>itor<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
Spatial plann<strong>in</strong>g, and the Social dimensi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>of</strong> water management. The achievements <strong>of</strong> EU<br />
research projects are c<strong>on</strong>sidered <strong>in</strong> view <strong>of</strong> the extent to which IWRM resp<strong>on</strong>ds to the current<br />
complexity and uncerta<strong>in</strong>ty water management is fac<strong>in</strong>g. These achievements are positi<strong>on</strong>ed<br />
<strong>in</strong> a wider c<strong>on</strong>text <strong>of</strong> worldwide developments <strong>in</strong> the respective topics which account for the<br />
future challenges. From this, the book c<strong>on</strong>cludes with the required focus <strong>of</strong> European<br />
research <strong>in</strong> the near future and promotes the c<strong>on</strong>cept <strong>of</strong> Adaptive <strong>Water</strong> Management as the<br />
preferred directi<strong>on</strong> for the development <strong>of</strong> IWRM.<br />
The book presents the achievements <strong>of</strong> European IWRM research <strong>on</strong> a range <strong>of</strong> water<br />
management topics and <strong>of</strong>fers c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s and recommendati<strong>on</strong>s for research foci that will be<br />
<strong>in</strong>valuable to water managers, policy-makers and academic researchers work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the field<br />
<strong>of</strong> IWRM.<br />
This title bel<strong>on</strong>gs to the European <strong>Water</strong> Research Series<br />
ISBN: 9781843391722 • April 2008 • 156 pages • Paperback<br />
<strong>IWA</strong> Members price: £ 54.75 / US$ 109.50 / € 82.13<br />
http://www.iwapublish<strong>in</strong>g.com/template.cfm?name=isbn1843391724<br />
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Restor<strong>in</strong>g Floodpla<strong>in</strong>s <strong>in</strong> Europe<br />
Editor: Timothy Moss and Jochen M<strong>on</strong>stadt<br />
Floodpla<strong>in</strong>s represent some <strong>of</strong> the most species-rich and endangered ecosystems <strong>in</strong> Europe.<br />
They are also hugely important for stor<strong>in</strong>g floodwaters, improv<strong>in</strong>g water quality, enhanc<strong>in</strong>g<br />
riparian landscapes, produc<strong>in</strong>g ec<strong>on</strong>omic goods (such as timber) and support<strong>in</strong>g recreati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
pursuits.<br />
This book explores the reas<strong>on</strong>s beh<strong>in</strong>d the discrepancy between grow<strong>in</strong>g policy <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong><br />
floodpla<strong>in</strong>s and limited <strong>in</strong>stances <strong>of</strong> restorati<strong>on</strong>. It presents orig<strong>in</strong>al, comparative analysis <strong>of</strong><br />
the shift<strong>in</strong>g policy c<strong>on</strong>texts <strong>of</strong> floodpla<strong>in</strong> restorati<strong>on</strong> <strong>in</strong> the EU, Germany, France and<br />
England and Wales, illustrat<strong>in</strong>g how recent reforms and re-th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g are creat<strong>in</strong>g new<br />
opportunities for restor<strong>in</strong>g floodpla<strong>in</strong>s. Case studies <strong>of</strong> six schemes to restore floodpla<strong>in</strong>s -<br />
two from each <strong>of</strong> the countries studied - dem<strong>on</strong>strate how these opportunities are be<strong>in</strong>g<br />
exploited, but also what difficulties are be<strong>in</strong>g encountered by project managers.<br />
___________________________________________________________________________<br />
46 <strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35
The f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs and recommendati<strong>on</strong>s <strong>of</strong> the book are targeted at researchers and pr<strong>of</strong>essi<strong>on</strong>als<br />
engaged <strong>in</strong> policy development and project implementati<strong>on</strong> at EU, nati<strong>on</strong>al and local levels <strong>in</strong><br />
fields relevant to river and floodpla<strong>in</strong> restorati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
ISBN: 9781843390909 • February 2008 • 350 pages • Hardback<br />
<strong>IWA</strong> Members price: £ 62.50 / US$ 125.00 / € 93.75<br />
http://www.iwapublish<strong>in</strong>g.com/template.cfm?name=isbn1843390906<br />
-----<br />
SELECTED RESEARCH REPORTS<br />
Feasibility, Design Criteria, and O&M Requirements for Small Scale C<strong>on</strong>structed<br />
Wetland Wastewater Treatment Systems<br />
WERF Report 01-CTS-5<br />
Authors: S Wallace<br />
Publicati<strong>on</strong> Date: August 2006 • ISBN: 9781843397281<br />
Pages: 350 • Paperback<br />
<strong>IWA</strong> Members price: £ 77.25 / US$ 154.50 / € 115.88<br />
http://www.iwapublish<strong>in</strong>g.com/template.cfm?name=isbn1843397285<br />
Susta<strong>in</strong>able Technology for Achiev<strong>in</strong>g Very Low Nitrogen and Phosphorus Effluent<br />
Levels<br />
WERF Report 02-CTS-1<br />
Authors: Krishna Pagilla<br />
Publicati<strong>on</strong> Date: September 2008 • ISBN: 9781843397892<br />
Pages: 400 • Paperback<br />
<strong>IWA</strong> Members price: £ 77.25 / US$ 154.50 / € 115.88<br />
http://www.iwapublish<strong>in</strong>g.com/template.cfm?name=isbn9781843397892<br />
Scientific Review <strong>of</strong> Cyanide Ecotoxicology and Evaluati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> Ambient <strong>Water</strong> Quality<br />
Criteria<br />
WERF Report 01-ECO-1<br />
Authors: Robert W. Gensemer, David K. DeForest, Rick D. Cardwell, David Dzombak,<br />
Robert Santore<br />
Publicati<strong>on</strong> Date: December 2007 • ISBN: 9781843397533<br />
Pages: 124 • Paperback<br />
<strong>IWA</strong> Members price: £ 77.25 / US$ 154.50 / € 115.88<br />
http://www.iwapublish<strong>in</strong>g.com/template.cfm?name=isbn9781843397533<br />
Determ<strong>in</strong>ati<strong>on</strong> and Significance <strong>of</strong> Emerg<strong>in</strong>g Algal Tox<strong>in</strong>s (Cyanotox<strong>in</strong>s)<br />
AwwaRF Report 91170<br />
Authors: B Nichols<strong>on</strong>, J Papageorgiou, A Humpage, D Steffensen, P M<strong>on</strong>is, T L<strong>in</strong>ke, S<br />
Fanok, G Shaw, G Eaglesham, B Davis, W Wickramas<strong>in</strong>ghe, I Stewart, W Carmichael, and J<br />
Servaites<br />
Publicati<strong>on</strong> Date: September 2007 • ISBN: 9781843398264<br />
Pages: 172 • PAY-PER-VIEW ONLY<br />
<strong>IWA</strong> Members price: £ 63.00 / US$ 126.00 / € 94.50<br />
http://www.iwapublish<strong>in</strong>g.com/template.cfm?name=isbn1843398265<br />
____________________________________________________________________________________________________<br />
<strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35 47
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48 <strong>IWA</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Specialist</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Group</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Macrophytes</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Polluti<strong>on</strong> C<strong>on</strong>trol: Newsletter No. 35