Pablo Heleno Sezerino, Bárbara Beatriz Barbosa Silva, Leandro Bassani, Arieleen Reis da Silva e Catiane Pelissari
Abstract: Partially saturated vertical flow constructed wetland (SVF) emerges as an alternative to classical vertical flow due to improved carbonaceous organic matter removal and nitrogen transformations without the need for an external energy source. In this context, the main objective of this study was to show the long-term evaluation of a SVF wetland with 7.5 m² of surface area (filter media depth of 0.75 m, where 53% of the total depth was saturated) and planted with Typha domingensis macrophyte, operated as a secondary/advanced treatment unit of urban wastewater under subtropical climate conditions. Sampling and analysis of conventional wastewater quality parameters, oxygen consumption rate estimation, and assessment of bacterial dynamics were conducted over six years, which allowed inferring that operating the SVF wetland with a specific hydraulic load around 4 L∙m⁻²∙min⁻¹ and a hydraulic regime with feeding and resting cycles of 3.5 days ensured all wastewater quality parameters met local legislation release standards for river water bodies. The saturated zone of the wetland favors the presence of denitrifying bacteria, representing a potential of 44% of total nitrogen (TN) removal due to simultaneous nitrification-denitrification.
SEZERINO, Pablo Heleno; SILVA, Bárbara Beatriz Barbosa; SILVA, Arieleen Reis da; BASSANI, Leandro; PELISSARI, Catiane. Partially saturated vertical flow constructed wetland for urban wastewater treatment. Cadernos Técnicos Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental, [S.L], v. 3, n. 2, p. 23-30, 2023.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5327/276455760302003
