Abstract:
A subsurface horizontal flow constructed wetland located at
University of Moratuwa was observed from January 2012 to November 2012 in
order to derive empirical equations for the treatment efficiencies of BOD, COD,
Nitrate-N, Nitrite-N and Total Phosphorous with varying hydraulic loading
rates. Source of polluted water was the grey water effluent from the Staff
canteen which is located near the constructed wetland. BOD, COD, Nitrate-N,
Nitrite-N and Total Phosphorous, turbidity and conductivity
were taken to ascertain the water quality. Overall treatment efficiency of the
wetland cell is above 75% for all parameters. Regression technique was used to
derive the empirical equations. IBM SPSS statistics -20 software was used in
analysing the experimental data. The derived equations exhibit a high level of
accuracy since predicted data and actual data shared a strong correlation of
79.1% for COD, 93.2% for BOD, 85.1% for Nitrate-N, 84.1% for Nitrite-N and
measurements
86.2% for Total Phosphorous. Constructed wetlands in tropic environments
capable of using these equations with relevant adjustments to the original.
Citation:
Udukumburage, R.S., Ariyasena, M.A.D.N., Rupasinghe, G.G.M.B.M.B., & Karunarathne, S. (2013). Modelling of pollutant removal rates in constructed wetlands under varying hydraulic loading rates. In P.V.A. Hemalal (Ed.), Proceedings of the 7th National Conference on Earth Resources Management (pp. 63-67). Department of Earth Resources Engineering, University of Moratuwa.
