World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2020
Reclaimed Water Holding Pond Treatment Using Wood Chip Biofilters
Publication: World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2020: Water Resources Planning and Management and Irrigation and Drainage
ABSTRACT
To increase the availability of suitable water supplies, reclaimed water can be stored in holding ponds prior to application. However, eutrophication can occur in holding ponds due to the high nutrient (e.g., nitrogen) concentration of reclaimed water. This can lead to frequent clogging of irrigation system filters due to the growth of algae in holding ponds. A promising solution may involve the use of wood chip biofilters for treating reclaimed water detained in holding ponds. Wood chip biofilters are known to provide a surface for microbial attachment and serve as a source of organic carbon to facilitate nitrogen removal via denitrification. The objective of this presentation is to describe the results from a preliminary microcosm study that mimicked a wood chip biofilter treating wastewater effluent and discharging the biofilter effluent into a holding pond. The results indicate lower holding pond nitrate concentrations when wood chip biofilter effluent is discharged into the holding pond compared to the control. Previous studies reported that nitrate removal only occurs in wood chip biofilters. However, the results from this study indicate the biofilter effluent itself can be used to enhance nitrate removal in holding ponds. This would lead to a reduction of algae in holding ponds, and subsequently, fewer solids build up in irrigation filters. Furthermore, if the nitrate removal performance of holding ponds also increases, then the design sizing requirement of wood chip biofilters would be reduced. This would facilitate the practical application of wood chip biofilter holding pond treatment systems.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors would like to thank Katelyn Buse and Analyssa Hernandez for their assistance in performing the experiment. The authors would also like to thank Dr. Yaneth Gamboa from Texas A&M University-Kingsville for assisting with the ion chromatography sample measurements and Frank Garcia from the City of Kingsville for providing assistance with sample collection. This work was partially supported by but does not necessarily reflect the views of the Honors College, the Department of Environmental Engineering and the Frank H. Dotterweich College of Engineering at Texas A&M University-Kingsville.
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Published In
World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2020: Water Resources Planning and Management and Irrigation and Drainage
Pages: 102 - 108
Editors: Sajjad Ahmad, Ph.D., and Regan Murray, Ph.D.
ISBN (Online): 978-0-7844-8295-7
Copyright
© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: May 14, 2020
Published in print: May 14, 2020
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