Removal of Pathogenic Bacteria in Constructed Wetlands: Mechanisms and Efficiency
Sanitation efficiency is an important parameter in wastewater treatment. Removal of pathogenic microorganisms is crucial to prevent water resources contamination and to limit any risks for human health. Constructed Wetlands are today a well-established te
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Abstract Sanitation efficiency is an important parameter in wastewater treatment. Removal of pathogenic microorganisms is crucial to prevent water resources contamination and to limit any risks for human health. Constructed Wetlands are today a well-established technology for wastewater treatment. Although very effective in the removal of organic matter and nutrients, pathogen removal is seldom the main target in these systems. Current experience shows that Constructed Wetlands can be very effective in the removal of pathogens from wastewater with removal rates up to 99 %. This review chapter provides information about sanitation practices using different technologies, focusing on the sanitation efficiency of Constructed Wetlands, the removal processes and the design and operational parameters that affect the removal of pathogens in Constructed Wetland systems. Keywords Constructed Wetlands • Sanitation • Pathogens • Processes • Microorganisms • Bacteria • Fecal indicators • Coliforms
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Introduction
Continuous pressure to available fresh water resources, overexploitation and extended contamination of water sources due to rapid human population increase, resulted in respective increasing demand for fresh, clean water, while at the same time available water per capita decreases [1]. Adding to these the gradual increase of wastewater volumes generated, the issue of providing clean water becomes
S.I. Alexandros (*) Constructed Wetlands Competence Centre, Bauer Nimr LLC, Bauer Resources, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman e-mail: [email protected] C.S. Akratos Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Management, University of Patras, Patras, Greece e-mail: [email protected] © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016 A.A. Ansari et al. (eds.), Phytoremediation, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-41811-7_17
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more and more difficult to address. Therefore, proper and effective treatment of wastewater is required, especially considering that treated wastewater could represent an additional water source in the water cycle. Conventional centralized treatment methods (mostly activated sludge systems) have been widely applied. However, the global treatment capacity still remains below the produced wastewater volume. Especially in developing countries, where economic issues are more intense, wastewater reuse often takes place with little or even without prior treatment [2]. Under this frame, new technologies are needed that will fulfill certain criteria, namely appropriate performance, cost-effectiveness, sustainable character, and easiness to build. Wastewater of human origin contains various pollutants such as organic matter (BOD and COD), nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), and pathogenic microorganisms. However, focus is usually given on organic matter and nutrients and the majority of effluent quality limits from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) refer to these pollutants. Pathogens are usually not the main target pollutant, and sanitation control is not the ma
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