Performance of Pilot-scale Vertical Flow Constructed Wetlands Treating Wastewater

Ten pilot-scale, circular, vertical flow constructed wetlands, of diameter 0.82 m and height 1.5 m were designed, constructed and are operating in our laboratory, in parallel experiments, receiving synthetic wastewater. The ten wetlands have various porous media materials, two vegetation types and three total thicknesses of the porous media. Water quality samples are collected at the inlet and the outlet of each unit, and are analyzed in the laboratory for BOD, COD, TKN, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, TP and ortho-phosphate, in order to determine removal efficiencies of these systems under various operating conditions. This paper presents the results of the first year of operation of these systems