Abstract
Field experiment was performed from August 1996 to January 1998 to examine the applicability of constructed wetland system for wastewater treatment in rural area. The pilot plant was installed in Kon-Kuk University and the school building septic tank effluent was used as an influent to the treatment basin. Hydraulic loading rate was about 0.1 6$0.16^3/m^2$ day and theoretical detention time in the system was 1.38 days. The treatment basin was composed of sand and reed. The influent DO concentration was low and many cases close to zero, but effluent concentration was higher than the influent which implies that oxygen was supplied naturally. The average concentration of influent BOD was 126mg/L, and with average removal rate of 69 % the average effluent concentration was 4Omg/L which satisfied the effluent water quality standard for the system of interest. The average influent concentration of COD was 2Olmg/L and average effluent concentration was 75mg/L with average removal rate of 60%. The performance of BOD and COD tends to deteriorate in the low temperature, and appropriate action needs to be taken during the cold winter time for stable operation. The average influent concentration of SS was 5Omg/L, and effluent was 1 1mg/L with average removal rate of 76% which satisfied the effluent water quality standard for the system of interest. The results for the regulated components, SOD and SS, from the experiment showed that constructed wetland system can meet the effluent water quality standards. The average influent concentration of total phosphorus was 25.6mg/L and average effluent concentration was 7.8mg/L with average removal rate of 63%. Not like the performance of the above components, average nitrogen removal rate was only 11.2% which is not satisfactory. Although, nitrogen is not regulated at this moment, it can cause many environmental problems including eutrophication. Therefore, nitrogen removal efficiency should be improved for actual application. From the result of the field experiment, constructed wetland system was thought to be an appropriate alternative for wastewater treatment in rural area.
