Field Application of a Renewable Constructed Wetland Substrate for Phosphorus Removal1 |
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Authors: | Shawn E Rosenquist W Cully Hession Matthew J Eick David H Vaughan |
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Institution: | 1. Respectively, Research Scientist (Rosenquist), Southeastern Natural Sciences Academy, 1858 Lock and Dam Road, Augusta, Georgia 30906 [Ph.D. Student at Virginia Tech at the time this paper was prepared];2. Associate Professor (Hession) and Professor (Vaughan), Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061;3. Associate Professor (Eick), Crop and Soil Environmental Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061 |
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Abstract: | Rosenquist, Shawn E., W. Cully Hession, Matthew J. Eick, and David H. Vaughan, 2011. Field Application of a Renewable Constructed Wetland Substrate for Phosphorus Removal. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 47(4):800‐812. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2011.00557.x Abstract: Phosphorus (P) is typically the best target to prevent eutrophication in freshwater, a biological process associated with water quality degradation. Constructed wetlands (CW) and other practices that include P removal by sorption processes in substrates can provide economical treatment of stormwater, but have limitations (e.g., large land requirements, loss of removal over time, lack of P recovery). Over the last three years, a multi‐study research program addressed these limitations with a new P management concept. This concept minimizes CW size with a rejuvenation cycle (or rejuvenation) that renews P‐sorption capacity in the CW substrates and enables P recovery for productive use. This study, conducted in Blacksburg, Virginia (July‐September 2009), tested the efficacy of rejuvenation in the field. Methods included replicate cells of two sand substrates monitored for P removal during prerejuvenation and postrejuvenation filtration runs. One substrate contained cast iron filings as a repository for sorption capacity. Results support the following conclusions: (1) P removal is likely dependent on multiple factors including influent P concentration, previous substrate/solution equilibrium, pH, and time; (2) rejuvenation is capable of releasing P adsorbed during stormwater filtration; (3) inclusion of cast iron in substrate promotes additional P removal and enables further removal after rejuvenation; but (4) inclusion of cast iron may limit release of P during rejuvenation. |
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Keywords: | best management practices environmental impacts phosphorus stormwater management sustainability constructed wetland substrates |
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