Development of a conceptual model for vertical flow wetland metabolism

Four parallel vertical constructed wetlands, with a total area of 556 m², are used to treat domestic wastewater, coming from a community of 550 inhabitants. The system includes pre-treatment with an anaerobic filter and post-treatment with chlorine, before discharging the effluent to the ocean. Four native species of macrophytes were planted: Paspalum penisetum, Typha sp, Conocarpres erectus and Scirpus lacustris. In situ measurements of gas content were performed for each bed during an operation cycle. After a feeding discharge, an unaltered sample of sand from each bed was taken, and a respirometric test was implemented to measure the metabolic activity in terms of oxygen consumption kinetics, CO₂ production and organic matter degradation. The results were used to develop a conceptual model of the microbiologic metabolism for the process of organic matter removal from wastewater. Sorption in the bed is the main mechanism for organic matter removal from the wastewater, with subsequent biological oxidation during the resting period. The degradation rate for dissolved organic matter is found to be dependent on its concentration and on oxygen content in the gaseous phase. During the days of major activity, the oxygen content was not fully recovered when a new discharge occurred, finding anaerobic activity within the bed.