Performance comparison of temperature-based and mass transfer-based horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland designs Open Access

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Two similar horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands (HSSF-CWs) that only differ in the wastewater flow length were compared in terms of their performances. The HSSF-CW with a longer wastewater flow length has two baffles, implying that interstitial velocity was considered when designing the system. In contrast, the unbaffled HSSF-CW considered temperature when designing. A significant difference (P < 0.05) was observed between the two systems in the removal of biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen, and fecal coliform (FC). Baffled system effluent contained mean BOD levels (32 ± 13 mgO₂/L), COD (47 ± 15 mgO₂/L), ammonia nitrogen (28 ± 8 mgN/L), and FC (4.4 ± 0.2 log unit). Unbaffled system effluent contained mean BOD levels (38 ± 16 mg/L), COD (57 ± 20 mg/L), ammonia nitrogen (31 ± 8 mgN/L), and FC (5 ± 0.2 log unit). No significant difference (P > 0.05) between the two systems was observed for nitrate nitrogen and phosphorus reduction. In general, the performance of the baffled system was better than the unbaffled one, although both systems complied with the WHO discharge limit for the COD (60 mgO₂/L). This confirms that the interstitial velocity is an important parameter in HSSF-CW designing in tropical countries.

• Mass transfer-based horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands (HSSF-CW) has baffles while the temperature-based HSSF-CW has no baffles.

• The two designs only differ in the wastewater flow length.

• Field experiments were conducted to prove that flow velocity influences performance.

• Interstitial velocity influenced the removal of organics, ammonia nitrogen, and fecal coliform but not phosphorus or nitrate nitrogen.

• An increase in interstitial velocity changed the character of flow from laminar flow to transition.