In tropical regions, where most of the developing countries are located, septic tanks and other onsite sanitation systems are the predominant form of storage and pre-treatment of excreta and wastewater, generating septage and other types of sludges. The septage is disposed of untreated, mainly due to lack of affordable treatment options. This study presents lessons that have been learned from the operation of pilot-scale constructed wetlands (CWs) for septage treatment since 1997. The experiments have been conducted by using three CW units planted with narrow-leave cattails (Typha augustifolia) and operating in a vertical-flow mode. Based on the experimental results, it can be suggested that the optimum solids loading rate be 250 kg TS/m2 yr and 6-day percolate impoundment. At these operational conditions, the removal efficiencies of CW units treating septage at the range of 80–96% for COD, TS and TKN were achieved. The biosolid accumulated on the CW units to a depth of 80 cm has never been removed during 7 years of operation, but bed permeability remained unimpaired. The biosolid contains viable helminth eggs below critical limit of sludge quality standards for agricultural use. Subject to local conditions, the suggested operational criteria should be reassessed at the full-scale implementation.
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Research Article|
May 01 2005
Treatment of septage in constructed wetlands in tropical climate: lessons learnt from seven years of operation Available to Purchase
T. Koottatep;
*School of Environment, Resources and Development, Asian Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 4 Klong Laung, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand (E-mail: [email protected])
E-mail: [email protected]
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N. Surinkul;
N. Surinkul
*School of Environment, Resources and Development, Asian Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 4 Klong Laung, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand (E-mail: [email protected])
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C. Polprasert;
C. Polprasert
*School of Environment, Resources and Development, Asian Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 4 Klong Laung, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand (E-mail: [email protected])
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A.S.M. Kamal;
A.S.M. Kamal
*School of Environment, Resources and Development, Asian Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 4 Klong Laung, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand (E-mail: [email protected])
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D. Koné;
D. Koné
**Department for Water and Sanitation in Developing Countries, Swiss Federal Institute for Environmental Science and Technology, P.O. Box 611, CH-8600 Duebendorf, Switzerland (E-mail: [email protected])
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A. Montangero;
A. Montangero
**Department for Water and Sanitation in Developing Countries, Swiss Federal Institute for Environmental Science and Technology, P.O. Box 611, CH-8600 Duebendorf, Switzerland (E-mail: [email protected])
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U. Heinss;
U. Heinss
**Department for Water and Sanitation in Developing Countries, Swiss Federal Institute for Environmental Science and Technology, P.O. Box 611, CH-8600 Duebendorf, Switzerland (E-mail: [email protected])
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M. Strauss
M. Strauss
**Department for Water and Sanitation in Developing Countries, Swiss Federal Institute for Environmental Science and Technology, P.O. Box 611, CH-8600 Duebendorf, Switzerland (E-mail: [email protected])
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Water Sci Technol (2005) 51 (9): 119–126.
Citation
T. Koottatep, N. Surinkul, C. Polprasert, A.S.M. Kamal, D. Koné, A. Montangero, U. Heinss, M. Strauss; Treatment of septage in constructed wetlands in tropical climate: lessons learnt from seven years of operation. Water Sci Technol 1 May 2005; 51 (9): 119–126. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2005.0301
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