Design details for constructed wetlands.

We are trying to construct a wetland to treat wastewater generated from 200 households. Our primary aim is to reduce the eutrophication of the pond where wastewater is disposed at present. Can someone share design details for constructed wetland? Also how can we improve the nutrient removal efficiency of these constructed wetlands? Thank you in advance.

Taxonomy

• Nutrients Recovery
• Wetlands
• Eutrophication
• Constructed Wetlands
• Waste Water Treatment
• Nutrient Recovery & Reuse

12 Answers

1. Hi Upal. This is not a question that could be answered in a few lines, but will try to.

   I would say you go for vertical flow systems, 2-stages, with primary treatment(sedimentation or what I prefer, anaerobic baffled reactor) or without (if you choose the french design). Concerning dimensions, I need to know where the system is to be build (climate). Also to reduse nutrients (mainly nitrates), you should apply effluent recirculation. For further minimising of nitrogen and phosphorus, you could install a downstream zeolite/bauxite filter. If there is not enough space, aerated beds are also a very goo solution. Generally, I think that area demand would be around 400-500 m2.

2. Hi Upal De Silva  I'm still waiting to hear from you so I can assist you with you wetland & wastewater.  

3. Hi Upal De Silva Could you tell me which Country you are in as we could possible have a really great solution for you. However I do need to know where you are as we would need to take into conideration climate conditions which could affect the wetland.

   As soon as you respond back to me I will have a chat with our Envirnmentalist & come back to you. Kind Regards PennyQ

4. Have a look at http://www.habitat.noaa.gov/restoration/index.html

5. Please visit http://healthywaterways.org/resources/documents/ to get some documents on design.
   

6. Greetings and Regards.
   I think that increasing the oxygen in two ways: by creating artificial and natural, as well as deposition systems and create channels for transfer into and granular fertilizer use them properly.
   

   1 Comment

   1. Our company called Gaia Water Ltd. Has oxygenated lakes in the USA and Canada and in 1 month raised the O2 levels from 2 PPM to 14 PPM and killed off algae and milfoil with our new technology check us out www.gaiawater.com

7. Upal please check www.earthboundinnovations.com. They have a product which uses the vados zone around these ponds to infiltrate water and allow for natural filtration of run off prior to collection. I do not know if this will help your particular application but you will.
   

8. Install a subsurface gravel flow wetland system (http://www.unh.edu/unhsc/) as modified by the University of New Hampshire for stormwater. these system were originally used in England to treat municipal wastewater. they significantly reduce nitrogen loads.

9. Dear Upal,

   Please find attached one of the most suitable article for your scenario. Please go through it as it is practical as well as economical too.

   However if you wish to have a properl designed wetland, we could assist you in this as we have experience as well as expore to such applications.

   Thank you,

   Best regards,
   Engr. Mansoor Ahmed

   PhD. Scholar, M.Engg., M.Sc., B.Engg.

   1 Comment

   1. I was just about to send you a link to the same document. I agree with Mansoor! Good luck, Sarah

10. Pls. Visit http://www.iagua.es/noticias/espana/universidad-laguna/15/10/22/humedales-artificiales-alternativa-depuracion-aguas It is a Spanish version about constructed wetlans.- Regards.- Luis Morante Alvarado, Civil Engineer, Lima Peru

    
    

11. Hi Upal

    We have a solution to grow Diatom Algae in the pond and thus prevent eutrophication. There would be no need to construct a wetland. We have a patented product that is to be poured into the pond regularly, once a week or so, and Diatom Algae grow and consume the nutrients and produce oxygen.
    

    The daily sewage flow from 200 households may be about 100,000 liters, the dosage of our product would be about 50 to 100 ml per day or 350 to 700 ml per week.
    

    If the pond is big enough, you can grow fish in it.

    Contact me for more information.

    Regards

    Bhaskar

    1 Comment

    1. Are there some successful examples of the use of your technology? Where can one see this? What will be the cost of the additive?

12. Try http://water.epa.gov/type/wetlands/restore/cwetlands.cfm for descriptive material on constructed wetlands and http://water.epa.gov/type/wetlands/constructed/upload/guiding-principles.pdf for details.

    If you are trying this yourself, I caution you that wetland design is more art than engineering and selection of the plants and their number is critical to nutrient removal. It is better to find a professional that has designed and constructed successful wetlands and contract with for their services.