Wastewater Discharge through a Stream into a Mediterranean Ramsar Wetland: Evaluation and Proposal of a Nature-Based Treatment System

Jesús de-los-Ríos-Mérida, Francisco Guerrero, Salvador Arijo, María Muñoz, Inmaculada Álvarez-Manzaneda, Jorge García-Márquez, Begoña Bautista, Manuel Rendón-Martos and Andreas Reul
Additional contact information
Jesús de-los-Ríos-Mérida: Departamento de Ecología y Geología, Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Teatinos, s/n, 29071 Málaga, Spain
Francisco Guerrero: Departamento de Biología Animal, Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Jaén, Campus de Las Lagunillas, s/n, 23071 Jaén, Spain
Salvador Arijo: Departamento de Microbiología, Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Teatinos, s/n, 29071 Málaga, Spain
María Muñoz: Departamento de Ecología y Geología, Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Teatinos, s/n, 29071 Málaga, Spain
Inmaculada Álvarez-Manzaneda: Departamento de Ecología, Universidad de Granada, Campus de Fuentenueva, s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
Jorge García-Márquez: Departamento de Microbiología, Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Teatinos, s/n, 29071 Málaga, Spain
Begoña Bautista: Departamento de Ecología y Geología, Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Teatinos, s/n, 29071 Málaga, Spain
Manuel Rendón-Martos: Consejería de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Desarrollo Sostenible de la Junta de Andalucía, Reserva Natural Laguna Fuente de Piedra, 29520 Fuente de Piedra, Spain
Andreas Reul: Departamento de Ecología y Geología, Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Teatinos, s/n, 29071 Málaga, Spain

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-13

Abstract: Impacts on wetlands are becoming more pressing every day. Among them, habitat loss, overexploitation of aquifers and changes in land use are considered the most important. However, the impacts linked to wastewater discharges are increasing worldwide. In this context, this study analyses the impacts of input of wastewater to a Mediterranean Ramsar temporary wetland (Fuente de Piedra, south of Spain). To this end, systematic sampling was carried out in the Charcón stream which receives water from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and discharges it into the wetland. The results showed a slight decrease in the nutrient concentrations, particularly for nitrogen compounds. Heterotrophic and fecal bacteria concentration, as well as phytoplankton and zooplankton abundance and biomass, all significantly decreased from the treatment plant to the wetland. When comparing the effect of this discharge with other similar occurring to the same wetland, it was evident that the Charcón stream was responsible for a greater impact. At this point, it is relevant to note that the main difference among both treated wastewater discharges lies in the different water retention time once the wastewater was released from the WWTP. In fact, we recommend an increase in the water retention time by building seminatural ponds, together with the use of biofilters, which will notably contribute to improve the processes of assimilation of nutrients and to decrease the impact generated in the wetland by this spill.

Keywords: cultural eutrophication; management; seminatural ponds; temporary wetlands; wastewater; water quality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/6/3540/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/6/3540/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:6:p:3540-:d:522249

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().