Long-Term Performance of a Hybrid-Flow Constructed Wetlands System for Urban Wastewater Treatment in Caldera de Tirajana (Santa Lucía, Gran Canaria, Spain)

Gilberto M. Martel-Rodríguez (), Vanessa Millán-Gabet, Carlos A. Mendieta-Pino, Eva García-Romero and José R. Sánchez-Ramírez
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Gilberto M. Martel-Rodríguez: Water Department, Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias (ITC), 35119 Santa Lucía, Spain
Vanessa Millán-Gabet: Water Department, Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias (ITC), 35119 Santa Lucía, Spain
Carlos A. Mendieta-Pino: Department of Process Engineering, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), 35214 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Eva García-Romero: Mancomunidad Intermunicipal del Sureste de Gran Canaria, 35118 Agüimes, Spain
José R. Sánchez-Ramírez: Mancomunidad Intermunicipal del Sureste de Gran Canaria, 35118 Agüimes, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 22, 1-18

Abstract: This paper describes the results that have been obtained in a real case study of a hybrid constructed wetlands system, which has been in continuous operation for over 11 years. The main aim of the study was to understand the long-term operation and efficiency of the system (which is situated in the municipality of Santa Lucía, Gran Canaria, Spain), which comprises two vertical-flow and one horizontal-flow constructed wetlands for the treatment of urban wastewater. The system, which was originally designed to treat a flow rate of 12.5 m 3 /day, with a load of 100 equivalent inhabitants, has been operating since its inauguration (July 2008), with a flow rate of almost 35 m 3 /day and a load of 400 equivalent inhabitants. Despite this, the mean total removal efficiencies during the study period (2014–2019) are optimal for a system of these characteristics, as follows: 92% for 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD 5 ), 89% for the chemical oxygen demand (COD), and 97% for the total suspended solids (TSS). The system efficiency, with respect to nutrient removal, was somewhat lower, resulting in 48% for total N and 35% for NH 4 . It has been confirmed with this study that this type of system is an appropriate, robust, resilient nature-based solution for the treatment of the wastewater that is generated in small communities, especially in zones with a warm climate, stable mean temperatures, and mild winters.

Keywords: hybrid vertical- and horizontal-flow constructed wetlands; municipal wastewater treatment; small and remote community; water quality parameters; pollutant removal efficiency; 11 years’ experience; 6 years monitoring (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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